Nicotiana sylvestris is a tall tobacco plant bearing elegant, long, white drooping flowers with an intense fragrance. It makes an aristocratic statement at the back of a lightly shaded or sunny border, and is useful for filling gaps. It also works well in large pots and makes a wonderful cut flower. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
A short-lived perennial native to the South American Andes, Nicotiana sylvestris can come back year after year, but needs a thick mulch to help it through winter. While attractive to pollinators in its native range, Nicotiana sylvestris has flower tubes (corollas) which are too long for British pollinators to access. However, some species of bumblebee may 'nectar-rob' the flowers, which involves piercing a hole in the top of the tube to access the nectaries, without pollinating the bloom. For a tobacco plant with shorter flower tubes more suitable to British pollinators, try growing Nicotiana alata.
How to grow Nicotiana sylvestris
Sow seeds on the surface of moist, seed compost from February to May, and keep indoors in a heated propagator set to 18-22ºC. Thin out seedlings if necessary to allow space for growth, and pot on into individual pots once they are large enough to handle. Then harden off thoroughly before planting out into their final growing positions, after all risk of frost has passed.
Grow Nicotiana sylvestris in moist but well-drained soil in a sheltered spot in partial to dappled shade. Make sure the soil does not become waterlogged. Stake the plants before they flower and cut flowers regularly to prolong blooming. In autumn, when flowering has finished, cut back to the ground. You can then either dig up your Nicotiana sylvestris to overwinter in a greenhouse or conservatory, or apply a thick mulch around the rootball, to protect from frost.
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Advice on buying Nicotiana sylvestris
- Nicotiana sylvestris can be bought as seed, plug plants or in larger pots ready for immediate planting, from a variety of sources, including garden centres
- Make sure you have the right growing conditions for Nicotiana sylvestris – partial to dappled shade in a sheltered spot in moist but well-drained soil – before buying
- If buying plants, always check for signs of damage or disease before planting
Where to buy Nicotiana sylvestris
Frequently asked questions
Does Nicotiana come back every year?
Nicotiana sylvestris is a short-lived perennial that's often best treated as an annual. However, if you dig it up in autumn and overwinter indoors or apply a thick mulch over the rootball to protect from frost, it may grow back the following spring.
Do Nicotiana like sun or shade?
Nicotiana sylvestris is known as the woodland tobacco plant, and therefore does best in partial shade to dappled shade. For a tobacco plant that requires full sun, try Nicotiana alata.
Can you smoke Nicotiana Sylvestris?
Nicotiana sylvestris is one of the parent plants of the cultivated, hybrid smoking tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum. While its leaves do contain nicotine, bear in mind that they may also contain other compounds, such as anabasine, which is highly toxic to humans and animals. Remember that plants in the Nicotiana genus are in the Solanum family, and that all members of this family have some degree of toxicity, so it's best not to experiment with smoking or otherwise ingesting those that haven't been marked as safe to consume.
