Longflower Tobacco: An Evening Garden Charmer
If you’re looking for a plant that comes alive when the sun goes down, longflower tobacco (Nicotiana longiflora) might be just what your evening garden needs. This charming annual fills the twilight air with its sweet fragrance, making it a delightful addition for anyone who loves to spend time outdoors after dark.
What is Longflower Tobacco?
Longflower tobacco is a forb—essentially a non-woody flowering plant—that grows as an annual in most climates. Don’t let the tobacco name fool you; while it’s related to commercial tobacco, this ornamental cousin is all about the flowers. The plant produces delicate, tubular white blooms that open in the evening and release an intoxicating fragrance that can perfume an entire garden.
Where Does It Come From?
This fragrant beauty isn’t native to North America—it originally hails from South America. However, it has naturalized in many states across the U.S., including Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Vermont. It’s also found in parts of Canada, including Ontario and Quebec.
Why You Might Want to Grow It
Longflower tobacco brings several appealing qualities to the garden:
- Evening fragrance: The flowers open at dusk and release a sweet, almost intoxicating scent
- Night pollinator magnet: Evening-flying moths love these flowers, adding nighttime wildlife activity to your garden
- Easy care: This is a low-maintenance plant that’s perfect for beginning gardeners
- Self-sowing: Once established, it often returns on its own each year
- Cottage garden charm: The simple white flowers and relaxed growth habit fit perfectly in informal garden settings
Garden Design Ideas
Longflower tobacco works beautifully in several garden styles. It’s perfect for cottage gardens where its informal habit and evening fragrance can be fully appreciated. Consider planting it near patios, decks, or windows where you can enjoy the fragrance during evening hours. It also makes an excellent container plant, allowing you to move the fragrance wherever you need it most.
The plant typically reaches 2-4 feet in height with a somewhat sprawling habit, so give it room to spread or use it as a backdrop for shorter plants.
Growing Longflower Tobacco Successfully
The good news is that longflower tobacco is remarkably easy to grow. Here’s what you need to know:
Growing Conditions
- Light: Full sun to partial shade (though flowering is best in full sun)
- Soil: Well-draining soil of average fertility
- Water: Moderate water needs—avoid overwatering
- Climate: Grows as an annual in most zones; may overwinter in zones 9-11
Planting and Care Tips
- Start from seed either indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost or direct sow in spring
- Seeds are tiny, so barely cover them with soil
- Space plants about 12-18 inches apart
- Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continued blooming
- Allow some flowers to go to seed if you want self-sowing
- Very little fertilizer needed—too much can reduce flowering
A Few Things to Consider
While longflower tobacco isn’t considered invasive, it’s worth noting that it’s not native to North America and can self-sow readily. If you’re focused on supporting local ecosystems, you might consider native alternatives that provide similar benefits.
Some excellent native options for evening fragrance include four o’clocks (where native) or native evening primroses. These plants will provide similar nighttime appeal while supporting local wildlife more effectively.
The Bottom Line
Longflower tobacco is a charming, easy-care plant that brings unique nighttime interest to gardens. Its evening fragrance and moth-attracting flowers make it special, even if it’s not native. If you decide to grow it, you’ll likely find it becomes a favorite for evening garden strolls and outdoor entertaining. Just be mindful of its self-sowing nature and consider including native alternatives in your plantings to support local ecosystems.
