Lavender Cloud Nicotiana is a stunning cultivar of Nicotiana alata that lives up to its evocative name, releasing an intoxicating jasmine-and-honey fragrance on warm summer evenings that drifts across the garden. This half-hardy annual reaches 60 inches tall and blooms within 65 days, thriving in hardiness zones 10-11 or as a seasonal annual in cooler regions. The real draw is the variation in bloom color from plant to plant, making every seedling a small surprise, paired with a scent so powerful it can perfume an entire garden on sultry nights.
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Moderate
10-11
60in H x 30in W
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Moderate
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On humid nights when thunderstorms linger on the horizon, Lavender Cloud releases waves of jasmine-and-honey fragrance that can carry across surprising distances. This variety traces back to Daggawalla Seed in Portland, Oregon, a now-closed catalog that specialized in 15+ nicotiana varieties; Hudson Valley Seed trialed many and chose this one as a standout. Each plant produces blooms in subtly different shades, creating natural variation throughout your plantings that keeps the garden visually dynamic.
Lavender Cloud Nicotiana is grown primarily as an ornamental flower for its spectacular fragrance and delicate blooms. It excels in evening gardens where its powerful jasmine-and-honey scent can be fully appreciated during humid summer nights, and works beautifully as a cut flower to bring that intoxicating aroma indoors.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Maintain soil temperatures between 70-80°F for optimal germination. Keep seedlings under grow lights or in a bright window until ready to transplant.
Harden off seedlings over 7-10 days before transplanting outdoors after all danger of frost has passed. Space plants 18 inches apart in their final location, allowing room for the mature width of 30 inches. Transplant into soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0.
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“Lavender Cloud arrived at Hudson Valley Seed through the proprietors of Daggawalla Seed in Portland, Oregon, a specialized nicotiana catalog that has since closed. The Daggawalla team curated over 15 nicotiana varieties, representing years of selection and trial work. Hudson Valley Seed evaluated many of these varieties and singled out Lavender Cloud as the true standout, subsequently preserving and offering it to home gardeners. The variety carries forward the deep expertise of that Portland-based seed program, ensuring its story remains connected to dedicated nicotiana collectors.”