Sign up for the iWire to get breaking news, event info and the species spotlight.
Go Back | Printer Friendly Fact Sheet
Federal Noxious Weed TDA Noxious Weed TPWD Prohibited Exotic Species 
Invasive Plant Atlas of the USNOTE:
means species is on that list.
Nicotiana glauca
Tree tobacco
Synonym(s):
Family: Solanaceae (Potato Family)
Duration and Habit: Perennial Shrub
Photographer: Bransford, W.D. Mrs.
Source: NPIN
Description
Woody, evergreen shrub to 3 metres high with erect sparsely branched stems. Long tubular yellow flowers. Fruit is a capsule, produces many seeds that are dispersed by wind and water.
Native Lookalikes: Currently no information available here yet, or there are no native Texas species that could be confused with Tree tobacco.
Ecological Threat: Drought resistant, tolerant of a wide range of environmental conditions. Outcompetes native vegetation often forming monospecific stands. Fatalities have been reported in humans, livestock and other animals ingesting N. glauca.
Biology & Spread: Tree tobacco is a prolific seed producer creating 10,000-1,000,000 seeds/year and seed set close to 100%. Plants are self compatible and are fertilized by moths and hummingbirds.
History: Introduced as an ornamental as early as 1864 in Hawaii.
U.S. Habitat: Abundant in waste places, old walls, dry river beds, roadsides and along river banks.
Distribution
U.S. Nativity: Introduced to U.S.
Native Origin: S. Bolivia, n. Argentina
U.S. Present: AL, AZ, CA, FL, GA, HI, MD, NJ, NM, NV, OH, TX
Distribution in Texas: Primarily established in South Texas over to West Texas with some reports in central Texas.
Mapping
Invaders of Texas Map: Nicotiana glauca
EDDMapS: Nicotiana glauca
USDA Plants Texas County Map: Nicotiana glauca
Invaders of Texas Observations
List All Observations of Nicotiana glauca reported by Citizen Scientists
Native Alternatives
Management
Physical/Mechanical: Hand pulling can remove seedlings and small saplings. For larger more established shrubs, a weed wrench or other woody weed extractor should be used. Care must be taken to remove the entire crown to prevent re-sprouting. Cutting before flowering is also effective at reducing seed production; however, re-sprouting is common. Cutting at the end of the dry season (if applicable) can help prevent re-sprouting. Cutting should also be combined with herbicide treatment, or should be repeated over a number of years.
Biological: A combination of herbicide and the use of Malabris aculeata as a biological control agent has been recommended for the control of N. glauca.
Chemical: Herbicides such as triclopyr, imazapyr or glyphosate are effective for controlling N. glauca (DiTomaso et al., 2013). Large plants should be cut, and the stump treated with herbicide; 2,4,5-T.
Text References
DiTomaso, J.M., Kyser, G.B., Oneto, S.R., Wilson, R.G., Orloff, S.B., Anderson, L.W., Wright, S.D., Roncoroni, J.A., Miller, T.L., Prather, T.S., Ransom, C., Beck, K.G., Duncan, C., Wilson, K.A., Mann, J.J., 2013. Weed control in natural areas in the Western United States.Davis, California, USA: Weed Research and Information Center, University of California. 544 pp.
Florentine, S.K., Weller, S., Graz, P.F., Westbrooke, M., Florentine, A., Javaid, M., Fernando, N., Chauhan, B.S., Dowling, K., 2016. Influence of selected environmental factors on seed germination and seedling survival of the arid zone invasive species tobacco bush (Nicotiana glauca R. Graham).Rangeland Journal, 38(4) 417-425.
Wilken D., Hannah L. 1998; Nicotiana glauca R. Graham (Solanaceae) Tree Tobacco. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Publication.
Online Resources
https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/cabicompendium.36324
Search Online
Google Search: Nicotiana glauca
Google Images: Nicotiana glauca
NatureServe Explorer: Nicotiana glauca
USDA Plants: Nicotiana glauca
Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States: Nicotiana glauca
Bugwood Network Images: Nicotiana glauca
