Tree Tobacco
Nicotiana glauca
Also listed as Nicotiana arborea, Nicotidendron glauca
Also known as Tobacco Tree, Wild Tobacco, Tobacco Plant
Climate Match for your location
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Tree tobacco is a fast-growing shrub with large, bluish-green leaves and fragrant greenish-yellow tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. It thrives in full sun and dry conditions, making it ideal for water-wise landscapes.
Why grow it
Tree tobacco grows rapidly in arid and semi-arid climates where many ornamental shrubs struggle, offering reliable structure and nectar-bearing flowers for pollinator gardens. Unlike slower-growing native alternatives in similar ecological niches, it reaches substantial size within a few seasons and tolerates poor, compacted soils typical of disturbed sites. Its tolerance for drought and heat makes it useful for water-limited landscapes where supplemental irrigation is impractical.
Watch out for
In mild climates, self-seeding can be prolific, so deadheading spent flowers or managing volunteer seedlings may be necessary to prevent unintended spread. The plant performs best with minimal fertilizer in nutrient-poor soils, as excess nitrogen can produce rank, weak growth prone to pest damage. Pruning becomes necessary after a few years to maintain shape, as older stems can become woody and sparse at the base.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Solanaceae
Native Range
South America (Argentina, Bolivia)
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Tree tobacco is a fast-growing shrub with large, bluish-green leaves and fragrant greenish-yellow tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. It thrives in full sun and dry conditions, making it ideal for water-wise landscapes.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Tree Tobacco grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Tree tobacco grows rapidly in arid and semi-arid climates where many ornamental shrubs struggle, offering reliable structure and nectar-bearing flowers for pollinator gardens. Unlike slower-growing native alternatives in similar ecological niches, it reaches substantial size within a few seasons and tolerates poor, compacted soils typical of disturbed sites. Its tolerance for drought and heat makes it useful for water-limited landscapes where supplemental irrigation is impractical.
Watch out for
In mild climates, self-seeding can be prolific, so deadheading spent flowers or managing volunteer seedlings may be necessary to prevent unintended spread. The plant performs best with minimal fertilizer in nutrient-poor soils, as excess nitrogen can produce rank, weak growth prone to pest damage. Pruning becomes necessary after a few years to maintain shape, as older stems can become woody and sparse at the base.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Solanaceae
Native Range
South America (Argentina, Bolivia)
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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