Nicotiana sylvestris
South american tobacco
(c) Scott Zona, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Solanaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Nicotiana sylvestris (South american tobacco) is a non-native California herb in the Solanaceae family, recognized by massive size, very long corolla tubes, and limited Bay Area distribution.
South american tobacco is a naturalized perennial found in northern Coast Ranges and San Francisco Bay Area in open, disturbed areas and fields at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from July to October, this plant produces white to cream-colored flowers in nodding clusters with star-shaped corollas 15 to 20 millimeters in diameter. Growing 1 to 2 meters tall with glandular-puberulent stems, it develops widely branching foliage with large elliptic to ovate leaves that have winged petioles. Its leaves range from 5 to 50 centimeters long, with basal leaves widely elliptic and lower stem leaves tapering to winged leaf stalks. The fruit is 12 to 18 millimeters long with tiny seeds approximately 0.5 millimeters in size.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; key features are massive size, very long corolla tubes, and limited Bay Area distribution
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, disturbed areas, fields
Elevation: < 200 m
Outside California: native to South America
Bloom period
Nicotiana sylvestris blooms Jul-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Mirabilis: Nicotiana has tubular flowers with visible petals; Mirabilis has petal-like sepals with no true petals.; vs Oxalis: Nicotiana has tubular nightshade flowers; Oxalis has clover-like leaves and 5-petaled flowers.; vs Phytolacca: Nicotiana has tubular flowers in terminal clusters; Phytolacca has tiny flowers in drooping spikes and purple berries.; vs Solanum: Nicotiana has flowers in branched terminal clusters; Solanum has flowers with prominent yellow anther cone.; vs Encelia: Nicotiana has tubular nightshade flowers; Encelia has yellow daisy-like composite flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nicotiana sylvestris native to California?
No. Nicotiana sylvestris is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Nicotiana sylvestris bloom?
Nicotiana sylvestris blooms Jul-Oct.
What plant family does Nicotiana sylvestris belong to?
Nicotiana sylvestris is in the Solanaceae family, genus Nicotiana.
What habitat does Nicotiana sylvestris grow in?
Nicotiana sylvestris grows in Open, disturbed areas, fields.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Nicotiana acuminata var. multiflora — Manyflower tobacco
- Nicotiana attenuata — Coyote tobacco
- Nicotiana clevelandii — Cleveland's tobacco
- Nicotiana glauca — Tree tobacco
- Nicotiana obtusifolia — Desert tobacco
- Nicotiana quadrivalvis — Four-valved tobacco
- Oryctes nevadensis — Nevada oryctes
- Oryctes sp.
- Physalis acutifolia — Sharpleaf ground-cherry
- Physalis angulata — Cutleaf ground-cherry
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.