White Tobacco Nicotiana sylvestris
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- nih-ko-tee-AY-nah sil-VESS-triss
- Description
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A tender rosette-forming perennial that reseeds fairly easily and will naturalize in the landscape. It does best in organically rich, consistently moist well-drained soil in the full sun and it will appreciate some partial shade in the south's hot afternoon sun. Long-lasting tubular white flowers appear from June and last until the first frost. Remove spent blooms to encourage flowering. It provides color and intoxicating fragrance into lates summer when many other blooms fade.Its upright habit might require staking. It works well in gardens where its showy blooms and sweet fragrance can be enjoyed like walkways, near patios or nighttime gardens. Consider it also for borders, cottage gardens.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Apids and beetles can be occasional problems. Do not plant near other members of the nightshade family (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplant etc.) because of the possible transmission of tobacco mosaic virus and other diseases.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Flower Bonanza Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Nicotiana
- Species:
- sylvestris
- Family:
- Solanaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Argentina
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and moths.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 2 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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 Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long-lasting
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Trumpet
- Tubular
- Flower Description:
- Blooms from June until the first frost with clusters of long tubular trumpet shaped white flowers that resemble shooting stars, hence the common name.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Spatulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Long (up to 15") coarse spatulate to oblong leaves
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Moths
- Pollinators