Description
Nicotiana (Nicotiana x Sanderae) | Tobacco hybrid ‘Perfume Blue’
There are over 65 species of Tobacco that hail from Australia, North America, and tropical South America. They are attractive plants with beautiful flowers and appealing foliage. All of them have tubular or trumpet-shaped flowers that come in nearly every color and most often open during the evening and and nighttime hours, sometimes releasing a pleasant fragrance. They can be used as specimen or bedding plants, in borders, woodland gardens, in containers, or for planting in masses or even as a focal point.
‘Perfume Blue’ is a beautiful new tobacco hybrid that was honored by the All-America Selections in 2006. Bred for improved disease tolerance and garden performance, the ‘Perfume’ Series is a breakthrough in Nicotianas for landscape use. ‘Perfume Blue’ Tobacco sports grey-purple tubular, star-shaped flowers with a blue tint that glows in the sun light, and possesses that old-fashioned sweet floral fragrance. The flowers are droopy to start the day, but transform as the afternoon rays of the sun lengthen, lifting the blossoms and releasing an intoxicating sweet fragrance into the evening. Nicotiana ‘Perfume Blue’ thrives in heat and humidity. Deadhead for continual bloom.
Start seeds indoor 6-8 weeks before last frost, or direct sow outdoor once soil temperatures warm up. Do not cover tiny seeds with soil. Needs light, humidity and heat to germinate, or direct sow outdoors after last frost. May self sow moderately.
Attracts bees and moth species, plus hummingbirds may come dip their beaks into the long flaring trumpet flowers. Deer resistant.
Type: Annual
Sun exposure: Full sun to part shade
Mature height: 1.5-2 ft
Mature width: 12-18 inches
Hardiness zones: 10-11
Please note: All parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested. All tobaccos should be considered poisonous to consume (smoking brings its own risks); some are extremely poisonous and have caused fatalities. Poisoning through intentional or accidental misuse of nicotine and products containing it is a relatively common occurrence. Related species may contain other toxic alkaloids, chemically similar to nicotine, so it is for this reason we suggest that you enjoy Nicotiana ‘Perfume Blue’ and other ornamental species of tobacco for their flowers only. Do NOT smoke these leaves.
