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Nicotiana obtusifolia

desert tobacco

Solanaceae Southwestern North American deserts

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Hummingbirds Drought Tolerant Fragrant (light)Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 8–11

Overview

Nicotiana obtusifolia is a sticky, glandular-hairy herb growing 8-24 inches (20-60 cm) tall, behaving as a short-lived perennial or annual depending on climate. The basal leaves are oblong to spatulate, 1-4 inches (2.5-10 cm) long, while the upper stem leaves are smaller and clasp the stem. Tubular flowers are 0.6-1 inch (15-25 mm) long, greenish-white to dull white, opening toward evening and releasing a faint scent that draws night-flying moths. Bloom runs from late winter through spring and again after summer rains. The fruit is a small capsule holding many tiny seeds. All parts contain nicotine and related alkaloids and are toxic if eaten. It grows in dry, rocky desert washes, canyon walls, and roadsides, often rooting in rock crevices. The plant tolerates heat and drought but is short-lived and depends on seed to persist. In cultivation it can self-sow and appear in gravelly ground nearby.

Native Range

Nicotiana obtusifolia is native to the deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, from California and Nevada east to Texas and south into the Mexican Plateau. It grows in rocky washes, canyon walls, and arid roadsides, often below 5,000 feet (1,500 m).

Suggested Uses

Planted in desert, rock, and native plant gardens for its evening flowers and moth activity. It suits gravel gardens and dry slopes where little else grows. The night-opening blooms support hawk moths and other nocturnal pollinators.

How to Identify

Identify Nicotiana obtusifolia by its sticky, glandular foliage and greenish-white tubular flowers 0.6-1 inch (15-25 mm) long that open in the evening. The clasping upper stem leaves and oblong basal leaves separate it from the larger-flowered Nicotiana glauca, a shrubby tree tobacco with yellow flowers. Crushed foliage has a sharp tobacco odor.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height8" - 2'

Width/Spread8" - 1'4"

Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

Winter Spring

Flowering peaks from late winter into spring, generally February to May, and can repeat after summer monsoon rains. The pale flowers open in late afternoon and evening, timed to night-flying moths. Bloom is brief in dry years and extended where moisture is reliable.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

gray-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.5 - 8.0(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

sand rocky loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow Nicotiana obtusifolia in full sun in sharply drained, rocky or sandy soil. It tolerates heat, drought, and alkaline ground and a pH from 6.5 to 8.0. Excess water and rich soil shorten its life and cause weak, floppy growth. As a short-lived plant it relies on self-sown seed, which germinates after rain in warm soil. It needs little care once established in a dry, open site. All parts contain nicotine alkaloids and are toxic to people and animals if eaten.

Pruning

No routine pruning is needed. Spent flowering stems can be cut back to tidy the plant, and removing them before the seed sets limits self-sowing. Plants are often left to reseed in naturalized desert plantings.