Texas Gardening: Texas Native Plant Pictures by color ( Pink ), 1 by htop

htop wrote:
Tobacco, Cultivated Tobacco, Smoking Tobacco, Herbe a La Reine
(Nicotiana tabacum), Solanaceae Family, naturalized, annual/perennial, blooms midsummer through first hard freeze

Distribution: Present in the Texas flora and known locally as: Common tobacco
http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/cgi/vpt_map_name?reg=1&name=<...

"Three important species of tobacco grew wild in Texas, one of which, Nicotiana tabacum, is the species to which most modern commercial tobaccos belong. The consumption of tobacco, by means of cigarette and pipe smoking, was a universal custom among the Indians of Texas before the arrival of the Spaniards. The Indians gathered and cured the wild tobacco and also cultivated it in small patches." (Copyright © Texas State Historical Association, From the website: The Handbook of Texas Online) Tobacco was first found and cultivated in the Americas, perhaps as early as 6000 B.C. After the discovery and colonization of North and South America, Nicotiana tabacum was exported widely to continental Europe and the rest of the civilized world.

For more information, see its entry in the PlantFiles:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/112106/

Tobacco, Cultivated Tobacco, Smoking Tobacco, Herbe a La Reine
(Nicotiana tabacum) 'Rose 36' - Although may be considered a cultivar, it is the "rosey" form of the plant. I am listing it here so that people are aware of how beautiful tobacco plant blooms are and to serve as an identification reference. I grew 'Rose 36' (Nicotiana tabacum) from seed as a cultivated ornamental plant in a container this past year. It provided blooms until the first hard freeze. Its container was placed under an evergreen tree which provided some protection. This winter, the plant has withstood many freezing nights and still remains alive with new growth occurring as the temperatures begin to warm. It has been a carefree plant and has only required occassional extra water when temperatures soared. The bloom clusters are very appealing. The sweet scent of the blooms is usually released in the evening. The plant attracts butterflies and moths. Spent flowerheads should be removed to keep the plant blooming. If this is not done, the plant can become weedy and eventually die. Seed need to be surface sown.

Caution:
All parts of this plant are highly poisonous. Not recomended for planting where young children are able to access the plant. Especially when the leaves are eaten, death can occur.

For more information, see its entry in the PlantFiles:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/166322/

Bloom as seen in very bright afternoon sunlight ...