Tobacco Plant
A half-hardy annual grown for its evening scent as much as its flowers — the long trumpet blooms open and release their perfume as the light fades. Sow it warm in spring, plant it out once the frosts are gone, and let it fill a still, sheltered spot near a door or seat where you'll catch the fragrance on a summer night.
Seriously toxic to cats, dogs & horses
Tobacco plants (Nicotiana) are listed as toxic to cats, dogs and horses on the ASPCA database. Every part contains nicotine — eating it causes hyperexcitability then collapse, vomiting, incoordination, paralysis, and can be fatal. One of the more dangerous ornamental annuals to grow around pets.
Care at a glance
Everything that matters, in six lines. The detail is further down.
Light
Happy in full sun or a little afternoon shade. A sheltered, still spot is best so the evening scent hangs in the air instead of blowing away.
Water
Don't let them dry out — thirsty plants wilt fast and flower less. Water at the base in dry spells, especially plants in pots.
Temperature
Frost kills them. Raise plants under cover and don't plant out until all danger of frost has passed, from late May.
Deadheading
Pinching off faded trumpets keeps fresh flowers coming and stops the plant putting its energy into seed too early.
Feeding
Not greedy in decent soil. A general liquid feed every couple of weeks keeps pot-grown plants flowering strongly through summer.
Soil
Fertile ground that holds some moisture suits them best. Dig in compost on light soils so the roots don't bake and dry out.
What to do, and when
Sow indoors from March in gentle warmth — the seed needs light, so barely cover it. Prick out, pot on and grow under cover; only harden off once frost has passed.
Plant out from late May into a sheltered spot and they flower through the season. Water in dry spells, deadhead, and enjoy the scent on still evenings.
Flowering carries on until the first frost cuts them down. Once they collapse, pull the plants and compost them — they're grown as annuals here.
Nothing to grow outdoors. Order seed for next year and plan where to place them — near a door, path or seat where you'll catch the evening perfume.
Grown for the evening, not just the day
Tobacco plants earn their place with scent. Many kinds, especially the tall Nicotiana sylvestris and the old N. alata types, keep their flowers half-closed and unremarkable through the day, then open and pour out perfume as dusk falls. Plant them where you sit out on summer evenings and the payoff is obvious.
Site matters as much as the plant. A still, sheltered corner holds the fragrance; an open, breezy spot lets it disperse. Near a back door, along a path, or beside a bench is ideal.
Sow warm, plant out late
The seed is dust-fine and needs light to germinate, so scatter it on the surface of moist compost and barely cover it. Warmth on a windowsill or in a heated propagator from March gets it going.
These are half-hardy annuals, so harden the young plants off carefully and resist planting out until the last frost is safely behind you, usually from late May. Plant out too soon and a cold night undoes all the work.
A serious word of caution
This is one to think hard about if you have pets or young children. Every part of the plant contains nicotine, and it is genuinely dangerous — not a mild tummy-upset plant. The ASPCA lists Nicotiana as toxic to cats, dogs and horses, and poisoning can be fatal.
If you grow it, keep it well away from grazing pets and from children who might pick and chew, and clear away any pulled plants and prunings rather than leaving them within reach. If in doubt, choose a scented annual with no toxicity concern instead.
Common problems
Wilting in dry weather
They're thirsty plants with soft foliage and flag quickly when dry. Keep the soil moist, mulch to hold water, and water pots daily in a heatwave.
Leggy with few flowers
Too little light or a lack of deadheading. Give them a brighter spot, remove faded blooms, and feed pot-grown plants to keep the display going.
Aphids on soft shoots
Greenfly cluster on the sticky young growth. Squash early colonies by hand or wash them off, and encourage ladybirds rather than reaching for sprays.
Frost damage
A single frost blackens and collapses them. Never plant out until frost has passed, and be ready to cover late plants if a cold night is forecast.
Everything a tobacco plant needs
Warmth to start, a sheltered spot, and moisture through summer.
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Other plants with a similar temperament.
How we checked this
Care cross-checked against the RHS. Toxicity taken from the ASPCA database, which lists Nicotiana (tobacco) as toxic — nicotine, potentially fatal. If our page and these sources ever disagree, believe them — and tell us.
Sources: RHS · ASPCA — toxic & non-toxic plants
Last reviewed · August 2026