The author of the text is Dr. Katarzyna Wróblewska
Nicotiana tobacco is a genus of herbaceous plants, less often trees and shrubs from the Solanaceae family. Although the genus comprises about 70 species, the fame and prevalence of one - the noble tobacco Nicotiana tabacum - overshadowed all the others.And there are species of extraordinary beauty among them, and often
and with an intoxicating scent.
One of the ornamental varieties is Nicotiana sylvestris tobacco. Its shape resembles noble tobacco. Large, clustered leaves at the base give the plants a conical shape.It is one of the most spectacular annual species.Not only because of its size (up to 2 meters), but also because of its intriguing flowers.
At the top of the branched shoots there are umbels composed of long and long hanging flowers. White, high-set inflorescences are extremely picturesque. Plants bloom for a very long time - from June to autumn.Forest tobacco looks beautiful in various flowerbeds, but due to its size, it is usually planted in the back.
It also works well in flower beds or in containers. It is worth juxtaposing it with low, carpet species with flowers contrasting with the white, intense colors: Valerian's impatience, sage, koleus. It is suitable for sunny places and fertile, well-drained, but fresh soils.
Other varieties of tobacco
Another ornamental type of tobacco is the Nicotiana alata winged tobacco from Brazil. Plants grow to 80 to 150 centimeters tall, but the most popular cultivars are short varieties growing up to 50 centimeters.Regardless of the height, plants form raised, branching shoots. The stems and leaves are covered with glandular hairs, making the whole plants sticky.
The main decoration of this species are multi-colored flowers: white, yellow, pink, red, purple and greenish. They bloom all summer long. The flower petals are fused into a long tube.Their patches, i.e. non-fused parts, bend at right angles, which gives the flowers a star-shaped shape.The flowers have an intense aroma in the evening, attracting night butterflies, which is why the plants are good plant near seating corners.
Sander's Tobacco
Another ornamental species is derived from flanked tobacco - Sander Nicotiana x sanderae. Its habit differs from the original species - the plants are shorter and more branched. Thanks to this, they bloom more abundantly - almost all of them are covered with flowers, which, however, are devoid of any smell.Due to their long and abundant flowering, they are perfect for container cultivation.
Planted more densely, they form dense multi-colored carpets. Both species do best in sunny locations, but also do well in partial shade. The soil for them should be fertile, humus, with a neutral pH.
