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NICOTIANA 'Hummingbird Red'

Image of Nicotiana 'Hummingbird Red' (HUMMINGBIRD SERIES)

Jessie Keith

Family

Solanaceae

Botanical Name

NICOTIANA 'Hummingbird Red'( HUMMINGBIRD SERIES)

Plant Common Name

Flowering Tobacco

Special Notice

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

General Description

With evening-scented flowers that are deep blood red, Hummingbird Red flowering tobacco is a dwarf, robust that's slightly earlier flowering! This hybrid tender perennial that is best grown as an annual bedding plant will tolerate light winter frosts and may behave as a short-lived, semi-evergreen 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 held slightly upwards and fragrant late in the afternoon and at night. The red 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; they are very attractive to hummingbirds late in the afternoon when open. Seeds later form and will drop to sprout nearby when growing conditions are favorable.

Grow 'Hummingbird Red' in full to partial sun situations in a moist, fertile and well-draining soil. It's delightful in annual beds, foregrounds of perennial mixed borders as well as small containers. In regions where it may perennialize (for only a couple seasons), use it in the cottage garden. In tropical regions plant seedlings in spring or fall--not during 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

  • 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

    Annual

  • Sun Exposure

    Full Sun, Partial Sun

  • Height

    10"-12" / 25.4cm - 30.5cm

  • Width

    12"-14" / 30.5cm - 35.6cm

  • Bloom Time

    Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall

  • Native To

    Hybrid Origin

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline

  • Soil Drainage

    Well Drained

  • Soil type

    Loam, Sand

  • Growth Rate

    Fast

  • Water Requirements

    Average Water

  • Habit

    Clump-Forming

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring, Summer, Fall

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Showy

  • Flower Color

    Red

  • Fruit Color

    Sandy Brown

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Green

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Green

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    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

    Matte

  • Evergreen

    Semi-Evergreen

  • Showy Bark

    No

Special Characteristics

  • Usage

    Bedding Plant, Container, Cutflower, Edging, Mixed Border

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    No

  • Invasive

    No

  • Attracts

    Hummingbirds, Butterflies

  • Self-Sowing

    Yes