Description

Description

Sensation Mix Flowering Tobacco - Big Jasmine Fragrance in a Small Package

Sensation Mix Flowering Tobacco is captivating. Its brightly colored, trumpet-shaped blooms fill the summer garden, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. The tobacco's stunning flowers, with their sweet, jasmine-like fragrance, have earned it the name jasmine tobacco. Also known as Sweet Tobacco, Winged Tobacco, Persian Tobacco, and Flowering Tobacco, it’s easily grown from seed and is often on experienced gardeners' must-have lists every year.

Details

The always-popular ‘Sensation Mix’ is a dependable variety with fragrant flowers, a distinctive trumpet shape, and five fused petals that form a star-like pattern in shades of pink, red, and white. The flowers stay open all day and into the evening. This variety reaches 2.5 to 3 feet tall, taller and more fragrant than modern hybrids. It thrives as a perennial in USDA Hardiness Zones 10-11. In zones 7-9, it can be grown as an annual or may overwinter with some protection.

The plants typically grow 3-5 feet tall with a spread of 1-2 feet. Its most distinctive feature is its brightly colored, fragrant flowers that bloom from June until frost. The leaves are large and spatulate—think of a kitchen spatula with a broad, rounded end and a narrower base where you hold it. It has a rounded tip and tapers to a narrow base. The bottom leaves can grow up to 12 inches long and are connected by winged petioles—the little stalk that connects the leaf to the plant's stem—giving the plant its Latin name, "alata," meaning winged.

The flowers release a heady perfume that fills the air with a sweet, jasmine-like aroma. This fragrance intensifies in the evening and at night, becoming even more pronounced as darkness falls. The scent profile is quite complex, with a dry floral tonality. Many dwarf varieties of flowering tobacco have been bred for compact size, but in the process, they have lost the intense fragrance of the original species. This makes Sensation Mix an excellent choice for planting near patios, walkways, or windows where its enchanting scent can be enjoyed.

Sensation Mix Flowering Tobacco has a long bloom season, starting in early summer and continuing until the first frost. This extended flowering period provides continuous color and fragrance to the garden throughout the growing season. However, it's worth noting that in particularly hot climates, the plant may experience a decline in flowering during the peak of summer.

The fragrant flowers attract many pollinators, including moths, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The intoxicating fragrance particularly appeals to evening, nighttime, and early morning pollinators.

This variety is well-suited for container gardening, making it ideal for gardeners with limited space or those who want to add a touch of fragrance to their balconies or patios.

History

Native to southern Brazil and northeastern Argentina, Nicotiana alata has a long history of medicinal and ritualistic use by indigenous peoples.

The genus Nicotiana was named in honor of Jean Nicot, a French ambassador to Portugal who was instrumental in introducing tobacco to France in the 16th century. In 1560, intrigued by the medicinal properties attributed to the plant, Nicot sent tobacco seeds and leaves to the French court, where it was initially lauded as a "wonder drug." While Nicot's introduction of tobacco primarily focused on its potential medicinal uses, the ornamental value of Nicotiana alata would later become prized in gardens. This marked the beginning of tobacco's journey into European society, where it quickly gained popularity among the elite and eventually spread throughout the continent.

Flowering tobacco was introduced into garden cultivation in the United States and England in the early 1800s. It was prized for its fragrant flowers and quickly gained popularity as a garden ornamental. Today, flowering tobacco continues to be grown in home gardens.

Garden Uses and Companion Planting

Sensation Mix Flowering Tobacco is a valuable companion plant with multiple benefits for the home garden:

Attracts Pollinators: Its fragrant flowers attract a wide range of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, which can improve fruit set and enhance flower production in nearby plants.
Deters Pests: Sensation Mix's strong scent may deter certain pests, such as aphids, flea beetles, and whiteflies, contributing to a healthier garden. It is also known to be deer-resistant, a valuable trait for gardeners in areas with deer populations.
Masks Odors: Its potent fragrance can help mask the odors of plants with subtle fragrances, making it a valuable addition to mixed borders.

While Sensation Mix offers many benefits, it is essential to avoid planting it near other nightshade family members, such as tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. This is because it is susceptible to the tobacco mosaic virus, which can spread to these vegetables.

Planting Tips

Timing and Location

Begin seeds indoors 5-6 weeks before the last frost.
Sow the tiny seeds on the surface of a moist potting mix and lightly press them into the soil surface.
Maintain a temperature of 70-75°F and keep the soil consistently moist.

Soil and Planting

Once seedlings have developed several sets of true leaves, harden them off before transplanting them into the garden after the last frost.
Gradually acclimate them to outdoor conditions over a week or two.
Plant in full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter, spacing 10-15 inches apart.
Maintain evenly moist but not waterlogged soil, especially during hot summer days.

Ongoing Care

Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming.
Flowering tobacco tends to self-sow, so to prevent unwanted seedlings, remove spent flowers before they go to seed.