Flowering tobacco (Nicotiana alata) is a tender perennial native to southern Brazil and northeastern Argentina that grows 3 to 5 feet tall and produces long-tubed, nocturnally fragrant flowers in yellowish-green to white. Hardy in zones 10-11, it's typically grown as an annual in cooler climates, blooming reliably from June through first frost. The plant's distinctive winged petioles (which give it the species name 'alata') support spatulate basal leaves up to 12 inches long, while upper stem leaves remain smaller and sessile. Though somewhat spindly in habit, its intensely fragrant evening blooms and ability to attract pollinators make it a memorable addition to gardens seeking nighttime fragrance and wildlife.
Partial Sun
Moderate
10-11
60in H x 24in W
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Moderate
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The flowers open only at night and release a powerful fragrance that fills the garden when other blooms have closed, making this a plant that comes alive after sunset. Its yellowish-green to white long-tubed flowers are unmistakable, and the distinctive winged leafstalks give it botanical character you won't find in ordinary ornamentals. In zones 10-11 it persists as a perennial, but most gardeners grow it as a summer annual that blooms steadily from June until frost arrives.
Flowering tobacco serves primarily as an ornamental plant, prized for its evening fragrance and showy nighttime blooms in garden borders and containers. While technically edible, it is grown for aesthetic and sensory appeal rather than culinary application. Its ability to naturalize in warm climates and attract birds and butterflies makes it valuable for pollinator gardens and landscape settings where evening fragrance is desired.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seed indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date. Use a seed-starting mix, keeping soil consistently moist. Maintain germination temperature of 70-80°F for best results. Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date has passed.
Set out seedlings or purchased plants after your last frost date when soil has warmed. Space plants 12-24 inches apart to accommodate their mature width. Harden off indoor-grown seedlings before transplanting by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over several days.
Seed may be sown directly in the garden after the last frost date in your area.
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“Nicotiana alata hails from the subtropical regions of southern Brazil and northeastern Argentina, where it evolved in warm, humid climates alongside the native flora. Its journey to global gardens began through botanical exploration and seed trade, though detailed documentation of its cultivation history remains limited in available sources. The species name 'alata' derives directly from its most distinctive feature: the winged petioles that support the basal leaves, a characteristic that botanists found noteworthy enough to encode in its scientific nomenclature.”