Companion Plants for Nicotiana
- Nicotiana or flowering tobacco gives off a sweet scent in the evening.nicotiana flowers image by Alison Bowden from Fotolia.com
Nicotiana is a species of flower that sends a heady perfume out from its blooms in the evening. It is also known as flowering tobacco or jasmine tobacco because of its scent but shouldn't be confused with the type of tobacco plant grown for cigarette manufacture. Nicotiana has long, tube-like flowers and all parts of this plant are poisonous, yet it has many companion plants that benefit from it. - Lettuce likes the shade provided by the nicotiana.lettuce image by carol lynch from Fotolia.com
Choose lettuce as a companion plant to a tall flower like nicotiana. Nicotiana often grows as tall as 5 feet and can provide lettuce plants with the light and dappled shade they require, especially as afternoon temperatures increase as spring turns into summer. Lettuce is a cool weather grower and having the protective sheltering of shade as well as a natural wind break from the nicotiana plant will allow you to harvest lettuce for a longer period of time. Nicotiana also offers organic pest control for lettuce. - Broccoli is a good companion plant for nicotiana.broccoli flower image by ewa kubicka from Fotolia.com
Plant cool weather crops like broccoli and cauliflower as well as warm weather vegetables like broad beans in a vegetable garden as a good companion plant to nicotiana. In this instance, nicotiana acts as a beneficial plant by providing organic pest control. Aphids, white fly, beetles and cut worms all love to feast on broccoli, cauliflower and broad beans. Planting nicotiana (which is a cousin to petunias) will decrease the insect population and chances for infestation, which could destroy your veggies. - Roses go with nicotiana for all day and into evening scent.roses image by OMKAR A.V from Fotolia.com
Opt for a rose garden as a fragrant companion to night-blooming nicotiana. Not all rose varieties have a scent but, for those that do, the scent is usually more prevalent during the day. Nicotiana, on the other hand, gives off its fragrance in the evening so this pairing would give you a fragrant garden all day and night. Antique rose varieties like Francis Dubreuil or Sophie's Perpetual will give off a damask-like scent. Many climbing varieties like Don Juan and Autumn Sunset give off a wonderful fragrance as well.
