Common Name: Tree Tobacco

General Information

Nicotiana glauca is an evergreen, soft-wooded shrub or small tree, growing up to 6 metres tall, with stems that are laxly branched[].
The plant has been used medicinally, as an insecticide and smoked as a stimulant. It is cultivated in the Mediterranean region and Iraq[].

Known Hazards

The plant contains the toxic alkaloid nicotine. Widely used in all parts of the world as a stimulant, usually by smoking the plant or chewing it, in larger doses nicotine causes vomiting, diarrhoea, slow pulse, dizziness, collapse, and respiratory failure[].

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Bolivia, Paraguay, southern Brazil, Uruguay, northern Argentina, Chile

Habitat

Rocks, walls and roadsides in the Mediterranean[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses 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.