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NICOTIANA 'Fragrant Cloud'

Image of Nicotiana 'Fragrant Cloud'

Jesse Saylor

Family

Solanaceae

Botanical Name

NICOTIANA 'Fragrant Cloud'

Plant Common Name

Flowering Tobacco

Special Notice

This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.

General Description

With tremendously scented white flowers that fragrances the moist evening atmosphere, Fragrant Cloud flowering tobacco is a delightful garden plant! This hybrid tender perennial that is most widely regarded as an annual bedding plant will tolerate light winter frosts and will behave as a tidy perennial if trimmed back in autumn after flowering wanes.

The oblong lance-like leaves are an attractive emerald green. In summer's warmth, the rosette of leaves sends up a lightly branched stem that bears many tubular flowers with five lobes, each colored white with a hint of pale green. Flowers often remain closed in full sun but open in late afternoon and into dusk, releasing intense fragrance to help guide pollinating moths to the nectar. Seeds later form and will drop to sprout nearby when growing conditions are favorable.

Grow 'Fragrant Cloud' in full sun to partial shade situations in a moist, fertile and well-draining soil. It is delightful in annual beds, perennial mixed borders as well as containers. In regions where it will perennialize (for only a couple seasons), use it in the cottage garden. It is most versatile if grown as an annual to unite and contrast variously colored flowers as it looks good flowering among nearly anything! In tropical regions sow seeds outside of the hot, humid rainy season.

There are potential health concerns regarding this plant. For more information visit: http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/php/plants.php?action=indiv&byname=scientific&keynum=60 .

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    12 - 1

  • USDA Hardiness Zone

    9 - 11

  • Sunset Zone

    A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

  • Plant Type

    Tender Perennial

  • Height

    30"-36" / 76.2cm - 91.4cm

  • Width

    16"-22" / 40.6cm - 55.9cm

  • Bloom Time

    Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall

  • Native To

    Hybrid Origin

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline

  • Soil Drainage

    Well Drained

  • Soil type

    Clay, Loam, Sand

  • Growth Rate

    Fast

  • Water Requirements

    Average Water

  • Habit

    Upright/Erect

  • Seasonal Interest

    Summer, Fall

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Showy

  • Flower Color

    White

  • Fruit Color

    Sandy Brown

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Green

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Green

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    Green

  • Foliage Color (Winter)

    Green

  • Fragrant Flowers

    Yes

  • Fragrant Fruit

    No

  • Fragrant Foliage

    No

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    No

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    Yes

  • Showy Fruit

    No

  • Edible Fruit

    No

  • Showy Foliage

    No

  • Foliage Texture

    Medium

  • Foliage Sheen

    Glossy

  • Evergreen

    Yes

  • Showy Bark

    No

Special Characteristics

  • Usage

    Bedding Plant, Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    No

  • Invasive

    No

  • Attracts

    Butterflies

  • Self-Sowing

    Yes