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Flowering tobacco

How to identify Flowering tobacco (Nicotiana alata)

Flowering tobacco, also known as Sweet tobacco, Persian tobacco

Flowering tobacco exhibits a luminous display of trumpet-shaped blooms with a soft, velvety texture, typically opening in the evening. Its flowers, ranging in color from white and various pink hues to rich reds, reach up to 3 inches (7.6 cm) in length. They are borne on branching stems that can rise up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall, forming a bushy silhouette. This plant's pointed, lance-shaped leaves are deep green, creating a vivid backdrop for the fragrant flowers that attract nighttime pollinators.

Lifespan

Lifespan: Perennial, Annual, Biennial

Plant Type

Plant Type: Herb

Leaf Type

Leaf Type: Evergreen

Quickly Identify Flowering tobacco

1

Trumpet-shaped blooms with velvety texture, opening in the evening.

2

Flowers ranging from white and pink to red, up to 3 inches (7.6 cm) long.

3

Distinctive tubular flowers in lime green, red, white, or yellow colors.

4

Small capsules, about 0.08 inches (2 mm), split open to release dust-like seeds.

5

Variable leaf sizes, with basal leaves up to 12 inches (30 cm) long and upper leaves smaller.

Flowering tobaccoFlowering tobaccoFlowering tobaccoFlowering tobaccoFlowering tobacco

Detailed Traits of Flowering tobacco

Leaf Features

The leaves of flowering tobacco are notably variable in size. Basal leaves are large, up to 12 inches (30 cm) long, with a spatulate shape and winged petioles. They can be dark green or light green with a notable venation pattern. Upper stem leaves are considerably smaller, sessile (no petiole), and more lanceolate in shape. The texture of the leaves is typically smooth, aiding in easy identification of the plant.

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Flower Features

The flowers of flowering tobacco are characterized by their striking colors, which can range from lime green, red, white, to yellow. Each flower consists of five petals that are fused into a long tubular shape, approximately 2-3 inches (5-7.5 cm) in length, forming a star shape at the opening. These tubular flowers hang downward on the stem. They emit a sweet fragrance, especially noticeable in the evening, and bloom from early summer until the first frost, though each flower lasts only one night.

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Fruit Features

The fruit of flowering tobacco is a small, inconspicuous capsule, measuring roughly 0.08 inches (2 mm) in diameter. Typically brownish to tan once mature, the surface of these capsules can have a slightly wrinkled texture. They split open when ripe to release numerous minuscule, dust-like seeds. Despite their small size, these seeds are vital for the propagation of flowering tobacco, as they are contained within a pericarp that, when mature, disperses them effectively, often with the aid of wind.

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Key Facts About Flowering tobacco

Attributes of Flowering tobacco
Lifespan
Perennial, Annual, Biennial
Plant Type
Herb
Plant Height
60 cm
Spread
25 cm
Leaf Color
Green
Flower Size
2.5 cm to 5 cm
Flower Color
White
Green
Yellow
Red
Pink
Purple
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Scientific Classification of Flowering tobacco

Species
Flowering tobacco (Nicotiana alata)
Learn More About the Flowering tobacco

Distribution Map of Flowering tobacco

Flowering tobacco is indigenous to parts of South America and has been introduced to a wide range of regions spanning continents such as Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, and the Americas. Its adaptability has allowed it to be cultivated in various locations outside its native range, thriving in a variety of climates and conditions.
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
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