Ornamental Tobacco

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Ornamental Tobacco

Due to our excise laws, ordinary tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) can not be grown by the home gardener as the production of a tobacco crop invites the payment of excise. The good news is that there are ornamental varieties of tobacco with attractive foliage and perfumed flowers that can be grown in the garden.

These highly decorative and often fragrant plants are largely unknown in Australian gardens as it was until recently extremely difficult to bring their seed into the country. A new system of quarantine clearance has opened the door to the importation of new varieties of ornamental tobacco.

Details

Common name: Tobacco, ornamental tobacco and flowering tobacco.

Botanic name: Nicotiana. The genus name Nicotiana is named after Jean Nicot (1530-1600), a French consul in Portugal who is said to have introduced the plant to France.

Varieties:

  • Nicotiana tabacum – Common tobacco can be grown in gardens for ornamental purposes but to harvest a crop of tobacco leaves requires payment of a tax. Flowers are white with a pink tinge.

  • Nicotiana alata – Named varieties of this and other species including N. x sanderae are frequently grown in gardens. The variety ‘Lime Green’ has lime green flowers. Others range through colours of green, crimson, purple, salmon and white.
  • Nicotiana sylvestris – Scented, pendulous snow white flowers hang from a tall, imposing plant.

Climate: The tobaccos grow in most parts of southern Australia, from Brisbane and south, but are best in a cool climate. The plants originate from South America. Most cultivated varieties are grown as annuals.

Good points:

  • These plants are striking perennials and annuals for the garden with many growing to about 1.5m (5′) tall.
  • The hybrid forms of N. alata come in a variety of colours and there are dwarf forms available reaching only 20-30cm (8-12″) in height.
  • Many (particularly forms of N. sylvestris) provide a wonderful scent for the garden, particularly in the evening when the flowers open.
  • N. sylvestris has a bold form that provides architectural lines in the garden as well as interesting flowers.

Uses:

  • Ornamental perennial and annual border plants in a cottage garden.

  • For colour and perfume in any garden.
  • As a talking point in the garden, for something different.

Likes:

  • Tolerates some shade (particularly N. sylvestris ). Tall varieties also like protection from winds.

  • Protection from frost (plants are frost sensitive).
  • Well-drained soil.
  •  If grown from seed sow in late winter especially in frost-prone districts.

Getting started

Ornamental tobacco seedlings are available at nurseries throughout Australia for planting in spring. They can also be grown from seed or be bought in flower in spring and early summer and planted directly into a cottage garden. Many will ornamental tobaccos will self seed in the garden.

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