Nicotiana Perfume White - Ornamental tobacco

The 'Perfume White' Ornamental Tobacco, a variety of Nicotiana x sanderae,  is a highly branched hybrid, offering numerous long, pure white star-shaped trumpets, open all day and fragrant in the evening. This annual plant looks magnificent in mixed borders, borders of flower beds or in large pots on a patio.

The Nicotiana (x) sanderae belongs to the Solanaceae family. It is a hybrid obtained by crossing Nicotiana alata and Nicotiana forgetiana. Its growth is quite slow, but it is very floriferous throughout the beautiful season and until the first frosts. Still very little present in French gardens, ornamental tobacco is worth knowing for the originality of its often highly scented evening flowers and the touch of exoticism it brings. Most species of tobacco produce flowers that open in the late afternoon to diffuse their jasmine-like fragrance all night and close again in the morning with the appearance of the sun. These plants are called vespertine. Some hybrids now offer a flowering that opens during the day and flowers in various colours.

The 'Perfume White' variety forms small bushy clumps that are 40 cm (15.7 in) tall and wide. Numerous branches ensure abundant flowering, in the form of long tubular trumpets, ending in 5 white petals arranged in a star shape, releasing 5 long stamens. The flowers, open during the day, measure 4-5cm (1.6 - 2 in) in length and are carried on short but sturdy inflorescences in slightly loose racemose clusters. As for the leaves, they are often covered with a short glandular down that makes them sticky and tacky; they form rosettes 30cm (11.8 in) in diameter.

Easy to grow, 'Perfume White' Nicotiana thrives in full sun or light shade in soil that is always moist but not excessively wet, well-drained and sheltered from the wind. It even tolerates summer drought quite well. It will look magnificent in mixed borders, borders of flower beds or in large pots on a patio. Ornamental tobaccos are unmatched in a scented garden accompanied by Mirabilis jalapa, Datura meteloides, Spider Flower Cléome Colour Fountain or Evening Stock Matthiola bicornis, each playing its part in an olfactory symphony.

Did you know that the pollination method of Nicotiana is directly related to the nicotine content in the flowers? Indeed, research has shown that varieties with low nicotine levels need bees, butterflies, etc. to pollinate them. The fragrance of the flowers is intended to attract them. But varieties with very high nicotine levels can be lethal to insects. They have found a way to self-pollinate. How else can they proceed if the work of the pollinator is compromised?

Note: Please note that our young plants in mini-plugs are professional products reserved for experienced gardeners: upon receipt, transplant and store them under cover (veranda, greenhouse, cold frame...) at a temperature above 14°C for a few weeks before being installed outdoors once all risk of frost has passed.