Flowering Tobacco Seeds — Nicotiana sylvestris White

Tall, Elegant, and Gloriously Fragrant in the Shade Garden

Nicotiana sylvestris, the Woodland Tobacco or Flowering Tobacco, is one of the most dramatic and romantic annuals you can grow. Rising to 1.5 metres or more on strong, leafy stems, it produces spectacular drooping clusters of long, slender tubular white flowers that hang gracefully from the top of each stem like a chandelier. The flowers are intensely fragrant — particularly in the evening — filling the garden with a sweet, heady scent that drifts on the warm air. One of the few tall annuals that genuinely thrives in shade, it is a perfect choice for planting beneath trees, along shaded fences, or at the back of a sheltered border.

Why Gardeners Love It

• 🪧 Spectacular drooping white flowers — long, slender tubular blooms hanging in elegant clusters from the top of tall stems
• 🌙 Intensely fragrant — the flowers release a rich, sweet perfume especially in the evening; plant near a path or seating area to enjoy it fully
• 🌳 Thrives in shade — one of the best tall annuals for shaded spots under trees, along fences, and in sheltered borders
• 🐝 Excellent for pollinators — the long tubular flowers are a favourite of moths and night-flying insects
• 🌱 Easy to grow — sow and largely leave; Nicotiana sylvestris is a reliable and rewarding annual
• 📍 Impressive height — grows to 1.5m or more, making it a superb back-of-border statement plant
• 🌿 Large, lush foliage — bold, broad leaves add a tropical feel to the garden even before flowering begins

Growing Tips for New Zealand

Sow Nicotiana sylvestris seeds in trays in late winter or early spring. The seeds are very fine — press lightly onto the surface of moist seed-raising mix and do not cover, as they need light to germinate. Keep warm and moist until germination. Transplant seedlings once large enough to handle, spacing generously as plants grow large. Nicotiana sylvestris prefers a sheltered position in partial to full shade and moist, fertile soil. It will tolerate some sun in cooler NZ regions but performs best with shade from the hottest afternoon sun. Flowers from mid-summer through to autumn. Note: all parts of the plant are toxic if ingested.

What's in the Packet

Each packet contains 15 seeds of Flowering Tobacco (Nicotiana sylvestris), with growing instructions included.