Purple Perfume Nicotiana is a heavenly-scented heirloom that transforms gardens into aromatic sanctuaries from late afternoon through morning. Its deep purple, star-shaped flowers resemble plum jam in color and open in succession along slender stems, reaching 18 to 24 inches tall. At 65 days to bloom, these plants reward quick attention with an intoxicating, powdery fragrance that beckons hawkmoths and other pollinators into your beds, borders, and containers. The velvety foliage and richly-hued blossoms create a sensory experience that goes beyond the visual, opening what seed growers describe as the doors of our perception through scent alone.
Full Sun
Moderate
10-11
24in H x 18in W
—
High
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The fragrance is the show here, a soft, powdery perfume that evolves throughout the day and night, most potent during cooler hours when the trumpet flowers unfurl into deep purple constellations. These plants deliver that scent reliably at 65 days, producing waves of sumptuous blooms on compact 18 to 24-inch frames that slip easily into cottage gardens, containers, and border edges. The velvety texture of both flower and foliage, combined with the rich plum-jam coloring, makes this nicotiana as tactile and visually striking as it is aromatic.
Purple Perfume Nicotiana is grown for its intoxicating evening and early morning fragrance, making it essential in fragrant gardens, near seating areas, and on porches where you can catch regular drifts of its soft, powdery scent. Its compact height and prolific flowering habit suit containers particularly well, allowing gardeners to position the plants exactly where evening air currents will carry the perfume toward outdoor living spaces. The flowers also attract hawkmoths and other unique pollinators, adding ecological value to ornamental borders and cottage garden plantings.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds on the soil surface or barely press them into starter mix, as nicotiana seeds require light to germinate; keep the medium moist but not waterlogged and maintain temperatures around 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Seedlings emerge in 7 to 10 days and should be grown under bright light to prevent legginess.
Harden off seedlings over 7 to 10 days before moving them outdoors after the last frost date, when soil temperatures have warmed to at least 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Space plants 12 inches apart with 20 inches between rows, planting at the same depth they were growing in their containers. Transplant in evening or on cloudy days to reduce shock.
Direct sow seeds outdoors after all frost danger has passed and soil has warmed. Scatter seeds on prepared soil and press lightly into contact without covering, or barely dust them with fine soil, as they need light to germinate. Keep soil consistently moist until seedlings are established.
Pinch out the growing tips when plants are 4 to 6 inches tall to encourage bushier growth and more flower production; this also helps prevent them from becoming too tall and leggy. Deadhead spent flowers regularly throughout the season to redirect energy into continuous blooming rather than seed set, extending your enjoyment of the fragrance.
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