Nicotiana glauca
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- nih-ko-tee-AY-nah GLAW-kah
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Tree Tobacco is a herbaceous perennial in the nightshade family and native to the central regions of South America. It is wild tobacco in the form of a spindly, many-branched shrub or small tree that, at maturity, will typically reach a height of 9 feet and an equal spread. However, specimens in the wild have been found to reach up to 22 feet high. It is distributed in warm temperate, arid and subtropical, dry and moist regions and is commonly found beside roadsides and along riverbanks. The genus name honors Jean Nicot, a sixteenth century French ambassador to Lisbon who introduced tobacco into France. The species name is from Greek for "bluish-gray" and refers to the color of its leaves.
Tree Tobacco does best in well-drained, moist soil sited in full sun. It is frost tender, drought resistant, tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions, and often out competes native vegetation. It often forms mono-specific stands and is toxic to livestock. It is considered invasive in many parts of the world including California and has become naturalized in Mediterranean countries.
It flowers from June onwards and can be quite ornamental, the yellow flowers contrasting with the blue-green foliage. However, it is not cold hardy and can be killed in hard winters.
All plant parts are extremely poisonous.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Nicotiana
- Species:
- glauca
- Family:
- Solanaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used as a poison and medicinally by native cultures.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Bolivia to Brazil
- Distribution:
- Southern and Northern Africa, India, coastal South America, southern United States, and Mexico.
- Wildlife Value:
- pollinated by moths and butterflies
- Edibility:
- All parts of the plant are poisonous
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Egg-shaped, two-valved capsule, 0.5- 0.75 inches long and slightly longer than the persistent papery calyx. It produces a large number of tiny seeds, which can be dispersed by wind and water.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Small, 2 inch flowers are tubular, cream or yellow-green, 5-lobed at top. Terminal panicle bears numerous flowers. Plants typically require 14 hours of sunlight to induce flowering.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Rubbery
- Waxy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves of blue-green up to 8 inches long and 3 inches wide are on stalks, alternate, smooth, succulent with a thick epicuticular waxy layer.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Slender stems, at first only semi-woody; perfectly glabrous.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Small Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN! Vomiting, diarrhea, slow pulse, dizziness, collapse, paralysis, depression, death, and respiratory failure can occur if eaten.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Nicotine, a toxic alkaloid
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Leaves
