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Nicotiana alata (tobacco flower) #680352

Asked February 08, 2021, 7:26 AM EST

Is Nicotiana alata considered invasive in Michigan?

Alpena County Michigan

Expert Response

Nicotiana alata, Flowering Tobacco is not listed by the State of Michigan as an invasive plant. https://www.michigan.gov/invasives/0,5664,7-324-68002_71240---,00.html

It is not a plant native to the midwest and is considered to be an annual because it is killed by early fall frosts in Ohio. See links below:

https://hvp.osu.edu/pocketgardener/source/description/ni_alata.html

https://web.extension.illinois.edu/hortanswers/plantdetail.cfm?PlantID=759&PlantTypeID=1

http://www.personal.psu.edu/rdb4/hort131/weekly-lessons/week-4/week-4-plants/nicotiana/

Dick M. Replied February 12, 2021, 12:51 PM EST

Thanks, Dick! So now we can plan to include them in our butterfly garden without worry, do you think?

They smell so good that I can't help think they would lure some pollinators.

Betsy Hale (<personal data hidden>)

On Fri, Feb 12, 2021 at 12:51 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

The Question Asker Replied February 12, 2021, 2:20 PM EST

I believe you are safe in their use as a non-invasive plant. Start small to begin and Enjoy!

See the attached link to a paper on Nicotiana alata pollinators: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1299&context=stat_las_pubs

Dick M. Replied February 12, 2021, 10:45 PM EST

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