Nicotiana is an annual grown for its blooms, which open from summer through fall. It's hardy across USDA zones 2 through 11, shrugs off deer and grows just as well in a container as in the ground. Its flowers are a real draw for moths, hummingbirds, and butterflies.
Zones
2-11
pH Range
5.5-7.5
Sun
Part Sun
Days to Maturity
70
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What Nicotiana is
Nicotiana grows as an annual and reaches around four feet at maturity. It blooms from summer through fall. It's also deer-resistant and well suited to containers.
How to grow Nicotiana
Nicotiana grows in USDA zones 2 through 11. Nicotiana does best in part sun — at least 4 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground. It needs around 1,300 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 60 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
2-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.5 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Part Sun
Growable Ground plant catalog
Drainage
well (dry spells)
Growable Ground plant catalog
Days to Maturity
70 days
Growable Ground plant catalog
GDD Required
1300+
Growing degree-days of accumulated warmth it needs to mature — humid summers reach this faster than cool coastal ones.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Mature Height
4 ft
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost-Free Days
60+
The frost-free stretch it needs start to finish — short-season areas may need an indoor head start.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Start the season right
Plant nicotiana in part sun with at least 4 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Nicotiana prefers pH 5.5 to 7.5 (Growable Ground Plant Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at its peak
Cut nicotiana blooms in the cool of the morning, just as they open, for the longest display.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — nicotiana is toxic to dogs and cats (moderate severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)
Nicotiana is a standout pollinator plant — high value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.)
Where Nicotiana thrives
On hardiness alone, nicotiana grows across most of the country — its range (USDA zones 2 through 11) is unusually wide. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 2–11·Where Nicotiana growsOpen map →
Continental US shown — Alaska and US Pacific territories sit outside the federal map's polygon dataset.
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Nicotiana can grow in these states:
See if Nicotiana will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether nicotiana actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Nicotiana in my zone?
Nicotiana grows in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Nicotiana?
Most growers plant nicotiana after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 60-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Nicotiana need?
Nicotiana does well in partial sun — around 4 hours of direct sun, and it takes some afternoon shade in stride. That flexibility makes it a good match for a bed the house or a nearby tree shades for part of the day. A Growable Ground report maps how the sun actually falls on your land, hour by hour, so you can set it where the light lines up.
What soil does Nicotiana need?
Nicotiana prefers soil pH 5.5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground (Growable Ground Plant Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Nicotiana attract pollinators?
Yes — nicotiana's flowers are a strong nectar and pollen source for moths, hummingbirds, and butterflies. (Source: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.)
Is Nicotiana safe for pets?
Nicotiana is toxic to pets (dogs,cats) with moderate severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)