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Common Name: Tree Tobacco

General Information

Nicotiana glauca is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 3.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant are poisonous[].

Botanical References

Range

S. America - S. Bolivia to N. Argentina. Naturalized in the Mediterranean.

Habitat

Rocks, walls and roadsides in the Mediterranean[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	3.00 m
Pollinators	Lepidoptera
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a well-drained deep rich moist soil in a sunny position[, ].
This species is hardy to about -5°c[]. Plants can survive the winter outdoors in the milder parts of Britain, though they usually act as herbaceous perennials in such conditions[].
Plants require more than 14 hours daylight per day in order to induce flowering[].

Edible Uses

The leaves have been made into a drink[]. Some care should be exercised here. The tea will contain nicotine and this can be toxic to the body.

Medicinal

A poultice of the leaves can be applied to cuts, bruises, swellings and other wounds[]. The plant has been used as a poultice for removing the pus from scrofulous sores or boils[]. A poultice of the leaves has been applied to inflamed throat glands[].
An infusion of the leaves has been used as a steam bath in the treatment of rheumatism[].

Other Uses

All parts of the plant contain nicotine, this has been extracted and used as an insecticide[, ].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in a warm greenhouse about 10 weeks before the last expected spring frosts. The seed usually germinates in 10 - 20 days at 20°c. Keep the soil moist and pot up as soon as the plants are big enough to handle, planting them out after the last expected frosts.