Desert Tobacco Plant Care

Desert Tobacco (Nicotiana obtusifolia) belongs to the Solanaceae family within the Nicotiana genus. Desert Tobacco is native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. Desert Tobacco is also known as Coyote Tobacco, Wild Tobacco.

Desert Tobacco displays an upright, branching growth habit, reaching up to 3 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1.5 ft. Desert Tobacco produces tubular flowers in shades of red, pink, white, or yellow.

Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Desert Tobacco every 4–7 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Desert Tobacco thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Nicotiana obtusifolia tolerates temperatures of 60–80°F. Desert Tobacco prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining, fertile soil with added compost. Good drainage is essential for Desert Tobacco to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Desert Tobacco every 3 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining, fertile soil with added compost. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Desert Tobacco is suited to USDA Zone 8a – 11b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Desert Tobacco can spread to about 2 ft (0.5 m) and reach about 3 ft (1 m) tall. Space plants about 2 ft (0.5 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Desert Tobacco while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Desert Tobacco is hardy down to USDA zone 8a, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown shrubs need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Desert Tobacco can be propagated through seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to nicotiana acaulis plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Desert Tobacco is susceptible to aphids, whiteflies, tobacco hornworms. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Desert Tobacco grows outdoors in USDA Zone 8a – 11b. It survives winters down to planting zone 8a. Desert Tobacco is native to the southwestern United States and Mexico.