Tobacco plant Sensation Mixed Seeds - Nicotiana alata

This selection of Tobacco Plant Sensation Mixed, also known as Nicotiana alata Sensation Mixed, is a mix of plants with flowers that come in different shades of white, pink or violet that open at first light. They are variants of a short-lived perennial that is grown as an annual and whose delicious scent fills the air on warm evenings from summer to autumn. Their clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers are carried on tall stems that rise up from rosettes of slightly sticky, dark green leaves. They deserve a special place along walkways and in large tubs on the terrace. They enjoy sunny positions and rich, moist, well-drained soils.

Native to South America, in an area ranging from southern Brazil to northern Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, Nicotiana alata is a plant of the Solanaceae family and is grown as an ornamental annual in our gardens. It is a tall herbaceous plant that reaches an average height of 1 m when in flower, and a width of 20-30 cm. It forms a rosette of 10 to 25 cm long, elongated, wavy, shortly decurrent, clasping leaves (its Latin name comes from the two "wings" formed at the base of the leaves) that are covered with glandular hairs that make them a little sticky. Flowering starts in mid-summer and continues until early autumn. The inflorescence is a raceme bearing tubular, trumpet-shaped flowers that are 5 to 10 cm long. The underside of the corolla is covered with glandular hairs. It is one of the most fragrant species. It exudes honeyed, waxy, dry, warm, aromatic scents. The flowers of the Sensation selection display a variety of shades. The fruit is a capsule containing many little seeds.

The 'Sensation' selection has become a rare find in catalogues being a rather ancient variety. It produces beautiful plants in wild-looking beds. They can be combined with Love-in-a-mist whose feathery foliage contrasts well with their lush rosettes, purpletop vervain or tall perennial phlox. In order to fully take advantage of their sweet scent, they should be placed in large pots on the terrace.

Warning: seeds are best meant for very experienced gardeners who are used to sowing very fine seeds. These seeds are as fine as dust and are hardly visible to the naked eye.