Plants
Flowering Tobacco
Nicotiana · Solanaceae
Flowering tobacco is a plant for people who sit in the garden at night: many varieties hold back during the day, but at dusk the star-shaped trumpet blooms open wide and release a heavy, sweet fragrance that draws in moths. In white and lime green it is also one of the most elegant gap-fillers in the summer bed. One important note: as a tobacco relative it is poisonous and does not belong in children's hands.
- Light
- Sunny to partially shaded; evening-scented varieties ideally near sheltered seating.
- Watering
- Regular — the rich soil should stay evenly moist.
- Care level
- Easy
- Botanical
- Nicotiana
Behind the name flowering tobacco stand several species of very different character: the compact bedding series of Nicotiana x sanderae flower colourfully even by day, the woodland tobacco (Nicotiana sylvestris) grows up to one and a half metres with hanging white flower tubes and intense evening scent, and Nicotiana langsdorffii adds floral accents with nodding lime-green bells.
The fragrance is tuned to its pollinators: night-flying moths with long tongues. That is why the white and pale varieties smell strongest, and only from dusk onwards. If you plant flowering tobacco for its scent, place it near seating — and skip the heavily doubled, day-blooming varieties, which often barely smell at all.
In the bed, flowering tobacco is surprisingly versatile: the green and white varieties mediate between strong colours and give plantings depth, while the tall species form airy, half-transparent backdrops. In naturalistic schemes with grasses and spider flowers it reads almost like a wild perennial.
In cultivation it wants a sunny to semi-shaded, warm spot with rich, evenly moist soil. Unlike many summer flowers it copes well with light shade — individual blooms even last longer there. Regular feeding is rewarded with an unbroken supply of buds until frost.
On toxicity one must be clear: all Nicotiana species contain nicotine and related alkaloids, including flowering tobacco. Nibbling the leaves is dangerous for children and pets, and larger amounts can cause serious poisoning. We therefore plant it at the back of the bed rather than in low boxes, and wash our hands after planting work — the sticky leaves release alkaloids through the skin as well.
One practical note: the glandular, sticky leaves occasionally trap small insects — this is normal and not a pest infestation. Towards the end of the season flowering tobacco happily self-seeds in spots it likes.
Is Flowering Tobacco toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Highly toxic
- Cats
- Toxic
- Dogs
- Toxic
All parts of flowering tobacco contain nicotine and related alkaloids. It is toxic to cats and dogs and, given their low body weight, especially dangerous for children — even a few leaves can cause serious poisoning. Plant out of reach and seek medical or veterinary help immediately if ingested.
Typical symptoms: Drooling, vomiting, tremors, racing heart, excitement followed by weakness and loss of coordination; larger amounts can lead to respiratory paralysis and life-threatening courses.
In an emergency:call the German poison control centre in Bonn on +49 228 19240 (24/7) — for pets, contact an emergency vet directly. This information does not replace medical or veterinary advice.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Plant in sun to partial shade and warmth; light shade is well tolerated.
- 02Keep evenly moist, flowering tobacco dislikes drought stress.
- 03Feed every one to two weeks, it is a heavy feeder with a long flowering season.
- 04Deadhead regularly to encourage new buds until frost.
- 05Wash your hands after planting and deadheading — the leaves contain nicotine.
- 06Plant out only after the last late frosts in mid-May, nicotiana is frost-tender.
Frequently asked
- When does flowering tobacco smell?
- Mainly in the evening and at night: the fragrance targets moths as pollinators. White and tall varieties such as woodland tobacco smell most intensely, while many compact colourful bedding series barely smell at all. During the day the scent largely stays away.
- How poisonous is flowering tobacco to children and pets?
- Seriously poisonous: all parts contain nicotine, which even in small amounts causes vomiting, tremors and a racing heart; severe courses are possible in children and small animals. Flowering tobacco therefore belongs at the back of the bed, not in low boxes — and if ingestion is suspected, see a doctor or vet immediately.
- Can you make smoking tobacco from flowering tobacco?
- No, and it is strongly discouraged. Flowering tobacco is bred for bloom and fragrance, not flavour; its alkaloid content is uncontrolled and handling raw leaves is hazardous. It is purely an ornamental plant.
- Does flowering tobacco tolerate partial shade?
- Yes, better than most summer flowers. In light shade individual blooms even last longer, and woodland tobacco comes from open forests anyway. Only deep, dark shade results in few flowers and long, soft shoots.