Jasmine tobacco is an annual or a tender herbaceous perennial in the Solanaceae (nightshade) family native to South America. Plant it in the full sun to partial shade in moist, well-drained soil that is high in organic material. It has a low tolerance for drought conditions, so be sure the soil remains moist. While it withstands full sun the plants appreciate some afternoon shade, especially in hot southern climates. This plant needs 12-14 inches of space when planted and will grow to reach 3 to 5 feet in height. It can be propagated easily through seed, which can be direct sown in the garden or started indoors. The showy fragrant tubular flowers open only at night and are reminiscent of Petunia x hybrida or Calibrachoa x hybrida. But Nicotiana alata has smaller flowers, more distinct points to petals, much larger leaves, and the plant grows taller than Petunia x hybrida or Calibrachoa x hybrida. It can be challenging to find the true species of this plant except by seed. Many flowering tobaccos sold in the nursery are compact hybrids like N. alata x N. forgetinana or Nicotiana x sanderae. These shorter plants, reaching a maximum height of 2 feet have flowers that are unscented and open during the day. The intoxicating fragrance from its showy flowers attracts nighttime pollinators like moths making it an excellent addition to a moonlit garden. Plant it as a filler in a container, in rock gardens, near a patio, or mass plant it in borders. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious pests. Do not plant near vegetable gardens that have other night shade plants (tomoates, potatoes, peppers) as they can share and spread viruses like tobacco mosaic virus.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Often confused withCalibrachoa x hybridaNicotiana x sanderiPetunia x hybrida
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet; 3 feet-6 feet
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Leaf color
Green
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Spatulate
Leaf size
> 6 inches long
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Leaves are much larger than flowers: they can be dark green or light green with larger spatulate (12" long) leaves with winged petioles at the base of the plant. Leaves on the upper stem are much smaller and sessile (no petiole)
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green; Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower shape
Star; Trumpet; Tubular
Flower detail
Flowers can be lime green, red, white, or yellow. They have 5 "petals," which make a star shape but the petals are fused together into a long tube that hangs downward on the stem. Their bloom season is long from early summer to the first frost though the individual flowers last only one night.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit detail
The seeds are almost microscopic they are so tiny.
Stem color
Green
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
South America
Wildlife value
Birds, butterflies, moths
Attracts
Butterflies; Pollinators; Songbirds
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Patio
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Nighttime Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden