Nicotiana alata
| Nicotiana alata | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 7 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 2' |
| Width: | 1' |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Early Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Shelter | |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Nicotiana alata (common name: tobacco)
Propagation: Seed - surface sow in a warm greenhouse about 10 weeks before the last expected spring frosts. The seed usually germinates in 10 - 20 days at 20°c. Keep the soil moist and pot up as soon as the plants are big enough to handle, planting them out after the last expected frosts.
Cultivation: Prefers a well-drained deep rich moist soil in a sunny position[1][2].
Hardy to about -5°c[3], this plant is usually grown as an annual in Britain, flowering well in its first year, but it does survive mild winters outdoors[1].
A very ornamental plant[1], it has sweetly scented flowers that release most of their scent in the evening and attract moths[4].
Plant requires more than 14 hours daylight per day to induce flowering[5].
Range: S. America - S. Brazil to N. Argentina. Locally naturalized in C. Europe.
Usage: All parts of the plant contain nicotine, this has been extracted and used as an insecticide.
Pollinators: Bees, lepidoptera
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: All parts of the plant are poisonous[1][6][7].
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association, 1981.
- ↑ Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Carter, David. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe. Pan, 1982.
- ↑ Buchanan, Rita. A Weavers Garden.
- ↑ Frohne, Dietrich and Hans Pfänder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Timber Press, 1984.
- ↑ Cooper, Marion. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. The Stationery Office, 1984.