Plants for 2013 - Nicotiana

Discussion in 'Gardening Discussions' started by Kristen, Dec 29, 2012.

  1. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    I opened the new catalogue from Chiltern Seeds at a random page and saw some Nicotiana I didn't recognise ... might be worth a punt as something a bit unusual?

    I was a bit underwhelmed by Nicotiana langsdorfii last year, maybe I should give it another go though?

    I loved Nicotiana sylvestris definitely adding that to my "every year" list.
    [​IMG]
    A beautiful plant for a partially shaded position, bearing clusters of drooping, tubular, white, fragrant flowers, 3½ ins. in length and 1½ ins. across at the mouth. Height 5 ft. R.H.S. 'AGM' Award Winner

    There is also Nicotiana sylvestris 'Only the Lonely' but I can't see what the benefit / difference is? (Chiltern's photo has more flowers ...). Seedaholic says "The largest of all the nicotiana varieties the stately flower stems are its eye-catching feature"

    So ... new ones that wetted my appetite:

    Nicotiana tabacum 'variegata' dunno if Chiltern are overselling this? "Quite simply, it is one of the grandest of such plants we have seen" :) the rest of their description is "Large, tall and handsome, they make broad columns of large leaves beautifully and architecturally arranged around a robust central stem. These are heavily coloured with creamy-yellow markings with some of the leaves being almost completely without green"

    Jungle Seeds have it too:
    [​IMG]

    Nicotiana tabacum 'Tobaco rosa' "This is a very splendid and handsome plant; very large, over eight feet high and five feet wide, with large leaves and bearing loose sprays of beautiful, red, funnel-shaped flowers. Height 8 ft." - Sounds like a monster, which would be just-the-job in my Exotic garden ?

    I saw Nicotiana glauca at East Ruston last Summer. I thought the tubular flowers too narrow-bore and thus looked rather insignificant, so I'm, planning to give this one a miss (unless you think otherwise?)
    [​IMG]

    I also got tempted by the Love-in-a-Mist on the same page ... didn't have the time to risk turning the page to either M or O :heehee:
     
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    • pete

      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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      I bought some seed a couple of years ago, not sure which nocotiana they they were now.
      But I was totally underwhelmed also, I was expecting evening/nightime scent, I never detected it.
      Maybe it was the weather, but not something I'm likely to bother with again.
       
    • Lolimac

      Lolimac Guest

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      I've been growing 'Nicotiana Sylvestris' for a few years...nice looking plant but only one year has the scent been noticable:dunno: I still grow them more for the looks these days and any scent is a bonus......the moths like them too:dbgrtmb:
       
    • Madahhlia

      Madahhlia Total Gardener

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      The variegated one looks good, might try that. I really like the white N affinis, it usually has a good scent. The dwarfer coloured ones can make a good show en masse but have little scent.

      They have not always been easy to grow, I've struggled with N sylvestris and affinis. They seem to germinate and start OK, but slow down and stop later on. Do I let them go hungry or pot-bound, I wonder?
       
    • Kristen

      Kristen Under gardener

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      Mine sort of stopped in early Summer, then had a growth spurt and put on a really good show in late Summer / early Autumn. Big leaves too.

      Dunno why though (triggered by the shortening day length perhaps??). Sylvestris likes some shade, could that be an issue with you?
       
    • longk

      longk Total Gardener

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      N.sylvestris is one of my must have annuals. Sets seed freely, so a one off purchase too!

      I think that N.langsdorfii is an real gem! One of the earliest to bloom, I also think that owing to the colour of the blooms it is very versatile as it will fit in well just about anywhere. I'm also a sucker for blue pollen................

      That last picture looks like N.glauca, not N.quadrivalvis which has white flowers and is a little unimpressive to my eyes. N.glauca on the other hand looks interesting - I tried to order seed last year but had missed the boat. It has a shrubby growth habit in the UK as winters knock it back, although in the correct spot it should be hardy after a couple of seasons.

      As far as the diseased looking one goes...................:gaah:
       
    • Kristen

      Kristen Under gardener

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      Do you know if the "Only the lonely" variety has any benefits over the bog-standard one?

      The one with Chimera-itis? :heehee:

      You are right about Glauca, it was that that I saw at East Ruston, so I must have posted the wrong link / name. I've edited it so it, hopefully, makes sense
       
    • longk

      longk Total Gardener

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      I'm kinda missing the point on that one too. You'll need to do back to back trials Kristen and let us know!
       
    • Madahhlia

      Madahhlia Total Gardener

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      Call me cynical but I think seed companies just bag up the bog-standard variety with a flattering photo, give it a fanciful name and add, ooh, should be good for at least an extra quid to the price.
       
    • Kristen

      Kristen Under gardener

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      That's shocking - particularly the companies that are selling both Bog Standard and Enhanced varieties!!

      But you're right, growing some-and-some would tell us; I'll do that.
       
    • longk

      longk Total Gardener

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      Cynical!!!

      My thoughts too though.............

      It's rather like the packets of mixed seed - they tend to be the least inspiring colours/species and it seems to me that it's a good way to offload them.
       
    • Madahhlia

      Madahhlia Total Gardener

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      Yes, and then they can make us pay more for the single colour packets, which to my mind, look better as part of your planting scheme!
       
    • Freddy

      Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

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      Hang on a minute, aren't 'Tobacco' plants supposed to be boring?:sofa::heehee:
       
    • longk

      longk Total Gardener

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      Far from it Freddy!
      Must admit that I'm not keen on the wishy washy colours of the common N.alata varieties, but for a great impact plant look no further than N.sylvestris.
       
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      • Freddy

        Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

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        Yes, that one really caught my eye, hence my comment:)
         
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