Nicotiana alata

Flowering Tobacco, Jasmine Tobacco, Sweet Tobacco, Winged Tobacco

Message of the Flower

Common Sense

The Mother’s Comment

It is very practical and avoids making mistakes, but lacks flight.

Colour

Greenish-yellow, white; also in many different colours

Family

Solanaceae

Cultivars

Numerous, including 'Grandiflora', 'Lime Green', 'Crimson Bedder'

Person who named the flower

Carl Linnaeus

Flower Size

2 to 3 inches in length

Flower Texture

Soft and velvety

Number of Petals

Five

Floral Symmetry

Radial

Fragrance of Flower

Strong, sweet fragrance, especially noticeable in the evening

Leaf Texture

Coarse, slightly hairy

Leaf Arrangement

Alternate

Leaf Color

Green

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

Herbaceous plant

Life Cycle

Perennial in its native habitat, commonly grown as an annual in temperate zones

Blooming Period

Summer to fall

Climate

Prefers warm climates; frost-sensitive

Water Requirements

Moderate, requires well-drained soil

Soil Type

Loamy, well-drained

Temperature Ranges

Thrives in warmer temperatures; not frost-tolerant

Sun or Shade

Full sun to partial shade

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

Susceptible to aphids, whiteflies, and tobacco mosaic virus

Pollinators

Attracts hummingbirds, moths, and butterflies

Habitat

Native to South America; cultivated worldwide in gardens

Role in the Ecosystem

Provides nectar for nocturnal pollinators

Ornamental

Widely grown in gardens for its fragrant flowers and attractive foliage

Uses in Other Aspects of Life

Research on nicotine and its effects; ornamental garden plant

Endangered Status

Not endangered; widely cultivated