Description
Nicotiana tabacum | Flowering Tobacco ‘Bolivian Criollo Black’
Nicotiana tabacum, known as Flowering Tobacco, Smoking Tobacco, or Cultivated Tobacco, has obscure origins as its not known in the wild and appears to be a hybrid between Woodland Tobacco (N. sylvestris), and N. tomentosiformis, and another species, perhaps N. otophora.
‘Bolivian Criollo Black’ is classified as a ‘dark tobacco’ but has many similar characteristics and flavor to Burley Tobacco. It’s a warm-weather annual with huge green leaves and clusters of pink and white tubular flowers. It’s a heavy producer which can reach up to 8 ft in height with an average of 26-28 sticky leaves per plant averaging 14 inches in width and 32 inches in length.
When nearly finished, the leaves will turn from light green to yellow as they ripen and air-cure to a light brown. Mild flavored. Can be used as a pipe tobacco or blended with other tobaccos for use in cigarettes or as cigar filler.
The flowers release a wonderfully fragrant vanilla aroma at dusk on summer evenings which attracts hummingbirds and hawk-moths. Hardy above ground to around 27 F.
Aside from its smoke-ability, ‘Bolivian Criollo Black’ tobaacco are beautiful plants to use as specimen or bedding plants, in borders, woodland gardens, in containers, or even for planting in masses.
Seeds are highly viable when sown indoors first before planting outside. They require heat, humidity, and light. Do not cover tiny seeds with soil.
Type: Annual
Sun exposure: Full sun
Mature height: 6-8 ft
Mature width: 4-6 ft
Hardiness zones: Annual- all zones. Perennial in zones 9-12
100 seeds
