Common Name: tree tobacco

Duration: Perennial

Nativity: Non-Native

Lifeform: Tree

Wetland Status: FAC

General: Common weed, originally from Bolivia and Argentina, naturalized, much branched shrub to small tree growing to 8 m tall.

Leaves: Thick and rubbery to 20 cm long, lance-shaped, smooth on short stalks, opposite on lower branches. Upper leaves lack stalks and lie on upward angle against branch.

Flowers: Small, tubular, cream-colored, greenish white flowers form at branch ends, corolla flares at apex, 5-cleft, unequally toothed calyx.

Fruits: Capsules contain many small brown seeds, sticky.

Ecology: Found on disturbed soils, vacant lots, roadsides, along stream banks, washes and drainages below 4,500 ft (1372 m); flowers March-November.

Notes: Found through the range, escaped cultivar in many cases, spreads by prolific seeds. 

Ethnobotany: Plant is toxic. Contains anabasine, an alkaloid similar to nicotine which can be extracted to be used as an insecticide.

Etymology: Nicotiana is named for Jean Nicot (1530-1600), the French ambassador to Portugal responsible for introducing tobacco to France in 1560, glauca comes form Greek meaning bluish-gray, referring to leaves.

Synonyms: None

Editor: SBuckley, 2010