(Nicotiana sylvestris ‘Only the Lonely’)

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Only the Lonely Tobacco is a tender perennial rosette-forming flower that is native to South America but can be found growing in the state of New York. At maturity, this plant can reach a height of 3-5'. It features 15” long coarse oblong leaves and clusters of aromatic white trumpet-shaped flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and pollinating moths, is resistant to deer, self-sows, and is used as a cut flower! 

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Received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit
  • General Information
  • Germination
  • Seedlings
  • Harvesting
  • Seed Saving
  • Companion Planting
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Family: Solanaceae

Genus: Nicotiana 

Species: sylvestris

Variety: Only the Lonely Tobacco

Also Known As: Night Scented Tobacco, Woodland Tobacco, Flowering Tobacco, white shooting stars, and South American Tobacco.

Native to: Argentina Northwest, Bolivia.

Introduced into: Great Britain, New York.

Easy of Growing: Easy

Grown as: Tender perennial that is winter hardy to USDA Zones 10-11. Otherwise, it is grown as an annual.
 
Maturity (Blooms): June to frost

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade

Water: Medium

Soil Moisture: Medium. Rich, consistently moist, well-drained soil.

Maintenance: Low

Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, and sphinx moths. It also resistant to deer.

Containers?: Yes

Height: 36-48"
 
Spacing: 18-24"

Sow Depth: On soil surface
 
USDA Zone: 2-9 Annual
               10-11 Perennial

Produces:  15” long coarse oblong leaves and clusters of aromatic white trumpet-shaped flowers.

Garden Uses: Mass in borders or cottage gardens. Site near a patio, deck or sidewalk to enjoy the fragrant flowers.
Only the Lonely is easily grown from Seed and best sown indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost date, but may be sown directly in the garden after last frost. Simply sow the seeds on the surface of 
consistently moist, organically rich, well-drained soil.
Set out seedlings after last frost date 18-24" apart. Only the Lonely blooms summer to fall in cool summer climates, but may fade somewhat in the heat of summer. Deadhead flower stalks of spent clusters to promote additional bloom. Do not site these plants near vegetable gardens with other nightshade family members (e.g., eggplant, tomato, potato, or peppers) because of susceptibility to and possible transmission of common viruses. May self-seed in optimum growing conditions. When growing in windy areas or unsupported by other plants, these tall plants may need staking.​
Each flower has a long tube with a flared, star-shaped end. The flower clusters can be cut to use in fresh flower arrangements.
After the flowers have been pollinated they will turn brown and shrivel leaving the seed pod remaining on the stem. The ripened seed pods are brown and open at the end when the seeds are ready to be broadcasted. At this point you can just tap a Nicotiana seed pod and the seeds will easily spill into the palm of your hand, seed envelope or a piece of paper. A single plant can yield a few thousand of the small, brown seeds. To save and store the seeds, spread them out on a piece of paper in a cool dry location for a couple of days to allow them to dry before storing them in seed envelopes for the following year.

Copious amounts of tiny seed are produced from each pollinated flower, held in a rounded capsule surrounded by the persistent calyx. The very small brown seeds are ovoid to kidney shaped. This species self-seeds readily, but the seedlings are easy to identify and pull if unwanted, so volunteers are not a big problem in gardens in cold climates, but it can be problematic in other areas where it can naturalize in open, disturbed areas
Use flowering tobacco in masses at the back of the annual or mixed border as a stunning backdrop for smaller plants, as a tall accent plant, or in a large mixed container. Its bold architectural presence complements almost any garden style from tropical to traditional. It is right at home in the cottage garden, and is a natural for a moon garden. Position the plants where their delightful fragrance can be appreciated in the evening.

Combine them with other tall, late-summer bloomers such as cleome, cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus), Verbena bonariensis, late-blooming shrub roses, and ornamental grasses, or use them to fill in gaps left by spring bulbs or spring blooming perennials that go dormant later on, such as Oriental poppy (Papaver orientalis). Their large leaves provide coarse texture that contrasts well with other plants with small leaves or fine texture.

Tobacco has some pests, including aphids and tobacco hornworm, as well as a few diseases, but these generally are not serious.

Do not site these plants near vegetable gardens with other nightshade family members (eggplant, tomato, potato, or peppers) because of susceptibility to and possible transmission of common viruses. 

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