Nicotiana alata is a species of tobacco. It is called Winged Tobacco, Jasmine Tobacco, Tanbaku, and sometimes Persian Tobacco, though the latter name is also used for Nicotiana persica.
Unlike the latter species, which is of some commercial importance in the production of Iranian Tobacco Company cigarettes, N. alata is mainly grown as an ornamental plant with numerous cultivars and hybrids that are derived from it. In Iran, narghila tobacco is sometimes produced from N. alata; it is not chopped like cigarette tobacco, but rather broken up by hand.
Nicotiana alata usually grows to 30 - 60cm tall. It requires almost its height in spacing between plants for comfortable growth. N. alata has a low drought tolerance, and therefore does not do well in dry areas. It prefers full-sun to partial shade.
N. alata has a lovely fragrance in the evening to night. Most varieties bloom late-afternoon to evening, during Summer to early Fall. Flowers on N. alata can range from lime green, maroon red, white, yellow, pink, and crimson; the plant may be of one color or occasionally several colors can be found on one plant. Seedlings do best when gradually introduced to outdoor environment over the course of a week. Plants tend to self-sow. Deadhead spent flower stalks for best blooming results.
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