Does it need full sun?

It prefers full sun but appreciates some afternoon shade in very hot climates.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes, it thrives in containers as long as they have good drainage.

Plant guide

Flowering Tobacco.

Nicotiana alata

Pronounced ni-ko-shee-AY-nuh uh-LAY-tuh

Also known as Jasmine tobacco, Persian tobacco, Sweet Tobacco, flowering tobacco

jasmine tobacco — Photo by Mark Richman (CC BY) via iNaturalist

Flowering tobacco is a lovely annual that brings a sweet scent to your garden in the evening. It produces tubular flowers that open up when the sun goes down. You will love how it attracts pollinators like moths to your yard.

Another photo of Flowering Tobacco — Photo by Patrascu Lucian-Marius (CC0) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Annual
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 2 to 4 days
Mature size: 3 to 5 feet
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 10 to 11
Bloom time: Summer to early autumn

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy to prevent root issues. Watch for wilting leaves as a sign that it needs a drink. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage the plant to keep producing new flowers throughout the season.

Watering: Water whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every two weeks during the growing season.
Pruning: Regularly remove faded flowers to promote continuous blooming.
Repotting: Since this is grown as an annual, you typically do not need to repot it.
Soil: Rich, well draining soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: 5 to 30°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%

Safety

People: The plant contains nicotine and other alkaloids that cause severe nausea, vomiting, and cardiac distress if eaten.
Pets: This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
Children: Keep this plant away from children because all parts are poisonous and the sticky sap is unpleasant to touch.
Contact allergens: The sticky, glandular hairs on the stems and leaves can cause skin irritation or dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: The heavy, sweet fragrance can trigger headaches or respiratory discomfort for some people in enclosed spaces.
Edibility: All parts of this plant are highly toxic if ingested and should never be consumed.

How to identify it

Tubular, star shaped flowers
Sticky, hairy foliage
Large, oval shaped basal leaves
Strong evening fragrance

Height: 0.6 to 1.5m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.6m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: white, lime, pink, red, 5 to 8cm

Problems to watch for

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: spring

Plant these near a patio or bedroom window to enjoy the evening fragrance.

Grows well with

Petunia · They share similar water and light requirements for a lush display.
Salvia · The vertical spikes of salvia contrast beautifully with the star shaped tobacco flowers.

Similar species

Nicotiana sylvestris · A taller relative with similar drooping, fragrant white flowers.

Science

Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Nicotiana
Order: Solanales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: South America, specifically Brazil and Argentina.
Conservation: This species is not of conservation concern.

It grows in open, disturbed areas where it relies on night flying moths for pollination.

Value to wildlife: night fragrance attracts pollinators
Pollinators: moths, bees
Uses: ornamental border, container plant, night garden

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 7/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 6/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need full sun?: It prefers full sun but appreciates some afternoon shade in very hot climates.
Can I grow it in a pot?: Yes, it thrives in containers as long as they have good drainage.

Where the name comes from

The genus honors Jean Nicot, a French diplomat who introduced tobacco to France. The species name alata refers to the winged stems.

Good to know

It is often called the flowering tobacco plant.
The flowers remain closed during the heat of the day.
It is a tender perennial often grown as an annual in cooler climates.

Also in

Plants toxic to cats and dogs

Keep your flowering tobacco growing

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.