Flowering tobacco plants have long been prized in cottage gardens and moon gardens for their intense smell. A relative of true tobacco, flowering tobacco plants are grown for their lovely blossoms in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. The plants themselves also vary quite a bit in size, from compact varieties fit for containers to large 5- to 10-foot-tall varieties best suited for the back of the border.

Garden Plans For Flowering Tobacco

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Colorful Combinations

Flowering tobacco plants are wonderful annuals that can add splashes of color all season long. With their starry blooms coming in a wide variety of colors, you're sure to find one to fit any garden palette. These magnificent plants come not only in a wide variety of colors, but also in so many different sizes.No matter where you need color in a bed, there's a size for that!

Plants vary from 6 to 10 inches tall as bedding plants to plants perfect for the middle of the border around 2 to 3 feet tall, and even up to 15 feet tall as a specimen plant. Bloom shapes can vary quite a bit. Some are long tubes with a flared star-like opening, while others are small and borne in large quantities that create clouds of bell-shape blooms. Many of the white varieties are wonderfully fragrant at night, emitting a sweet smell similar to jasmine.

Flowering Tobacco Care Must-Knows

Flowering tobacco plants generally have medium-green leaves. In many species, these leaves can be quite large, especially in comparison to the flowers. They are usually very hairy leaves and can actually be sticky to the touch, much like petunia plants. Keep in mind that all tobacco plants are poisonous if ingested, so be careful about planting them around young children and pets.

In well-drained, moist soils, flowering tobacco plants are extremely easy to grow. Give them rich soil, and they will happily put on loads of blooms that will last until frost. Once these plants are established, they can handle some drought, but they prefer fairly consistent moisture. These plants are very heavy feeders, so a slow-release fertilizer is always beneficial.

Flowering tobacco plants do best in full sun, and some varieties are able to perform in part sun. Taller varieties are much more likely to require staking when in more shade.

Because of the toxicity of these plants, they are generally pest free. A few pests, however, have managed to deal with these toxins. You may have problems with tobacco horn worm, a large green caterpillar that eventually becomes the hummingbird moth. These large bugs can quickly defoliate plants almost overnight. Manual removal is the easiest course of action against them. You may also encounter problems with aphids and whiteflies, but in outdoor settings these are usually uncommon.

More Varieties of Flowering Tobacco:

Image zoom 'Lime Green' flowering tobacco Nicotiana 'Lime Green' bears chartreuse star-shape flowers on 2-foot-tall plants. Zones 10-11

Image zoom Domino flowering tobacco Nicotiana 'Domino Series' bears flowers in shades of red, white, pink, and rose on 14-inch-tall plants.

Image zoom Jasmine tobacco Nicotiana alata bears clusters of fragrant greenish-yellow flowers on 5-foot-tall stems. Perennial in Zones 10-11 but usually grown as an annual.

Image zoom Nicotiana langsdorffii Nicotiana langsdorffii offers nodding clusters of green flowers on 5-foot-tall stems. Zones 10-11

Image zoom Nicotiana mutabilis Nicotiana mutabilis bears trumpet-shape flowers that open white and mature to rich, rose pink on 4-foot-tall plants. Perennial in Zones 9-11, but usually grown as an annual.

Image zoom 'Nicki Red' flowering tobacco Nicotiana 'Nicki Red' bears richly fragrant red flowers on 18-inch-tall plants. Zones 10-11

Image zoom 'Perfume Deep Purple' flowering tobacco Nicotiana 'Perfume Deep Purple' is an award-winning selection that bears rich purple flowers on 2-foot-tall plants. Zones 10-11

Image zoom Nicotiana sylvestris Nicotiana sylvestris bears clusters of fragrant white trumpet-shape flowers on plants to 5 feet tall. Perennial in Zones 10-11 but usually grown as an annual.

Plant Flowering Tobacco With:

Image zoom It's amazing that the tall, dramatic spider flower is only an annual. Once temperatures warm up, it zooms to 4 feet or more very quickly and produces large balls of flowers with fascinating long seedpods that whirl out. Cut it for vases, but be aware that the flowers shatter easily after a few days. It typically self-seeds prolifically, so you only have to plant it once. Because it develops surprisingly large thorns, it's best to keep spider flower away from walkways. Plant established seedlings in spring after all danger of frost has passed. Cleome does best in moderately rich, well-drained soil. Be careful about fertilizing or you'll have extremely tall floppy plants. Group in clusters of 6 or more for best effect.

Image zoom Dusty miller is a favorite because it looks good with everything. The silvery-white color is a great foil for any type of garden blossom, and the fine-textured foliage creates a beautiful contrast against other green foliage. Dusty miller has also earned its place in the garden because it's delightfully easy to grow, withstanding heat and drought like a champion.