Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is Flowering tobacco (Nicotiana alata)cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called Flowering tobacco, Jasmine tobacco, Sweet tobacco.

More about flowering tobacco

About Flowering tobacco

Nicotiana alata · also called Flowering tobacco, Jasmine tobacco · flowering

Flowering tobacco is a tender perennial grown as an annual, producing tubular, intensely fragrant flowers in white, pink, red, or lime green that open fully in the evening. It thrives in full sun to part shade with consistently moist, fertile soil. Keep well away from pets and children — all parts are toxic.

Cold limit: USDA 10–11 (annual in zones 2–9) · RHS H1c (15–30°C)

What flowering tobacco's hardiness rating actually means

Hardiness works differently for flowering tobacco: it is grown as a seasonal crop, not overwintered. The question is not "what zone" but "how long is your frost-free growing window". Its RHS rating of H1c means: Warm-temperate — can summer outdoors but must come in well before the first frost. On the US scale that maps to USDA 10–11 (annual in zones 2–9) — the zones where it can be left outdoors year-round.

New to these scales? The USDA hardiness zone map explained covers how the zone numbers work, and you can find your own zone with the zone finder.

Minimum temperature — and what happens below it

As an annual crop, its "minimum temperature" is the first hard frost — that is the end of the plant's life, not a survivable low. Many types are also damaged by light frost (around 0 °C).

Concretely, for flowering tobacco as it gets too cold:

Light frost (around 0 to −2 °C) damages or kills tender summer crops outright; cold-hardy types take a few degrees of frost.
The plant does not "survive winter" — its life cycle simply ends, by design, when frost arrives or it finishes cropping.
A surprise late spring frost can also kill young transplants set out too early, before the season even starts.

Can flowering tobacco go outside or overwinter — and where?

Time it to your frost dates: sow or plant out after the last spring frost, and aim to harvest before the first autumn frost.
In short-season zones, start it indoors or under cover to stretch the effective growing window.
Hardier crops in this group can be sown for an autumn or overwintered harvest in mild zones — check the specific crop.

Work back from your local frost dates with the frost-date calculator: the last spring frost and first autumn frost are what really decide when flowering tobacco can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H1c figure above.

Frost protection for borderline flowering tobacco

Flowering tobacco is right on a hardiness edge in many gardens, so if you are pushing it, these measures buy it the margin it needs:

Use fleece, cloches or a cold frame at each end of the season to dodge a borderline frost and add growing weeks.
Have row cover ready for an unexpected late spring or early autumn frost.
Know your local last- and first-frost dates and count back the crop’s days-to-maturity to schedule the sowing.

Flowering tobacco hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is flowering tobacco cold hardy?

Hardiness works differently for flowering tobacco: it is grown as a seasonal crop, not overwintered. The question is not "what zone" but "how long is your frost-free growing window". A seasonal crop, not a perennial. Flowering tobacco is grown 10–11 (annual in zones 2–9); you sow after the last frost and harvest before the first one, then start again next year.

What is the minimum temperature flowering tobacco can survive?

As an annual crop, its "minimum temperature" is the first hard frost — that is the end of the plant's life, not a survivable low. Many types are also damaged by light frost (around 0 °C).

What hardiness zone is flowering tobacco?

Flowering tobacco is rated USDA 10–11 (annual in zones 2–9) and RHS H1c — Warm-temperate — can summer outdoors but must come in well before the first frost.

Can flowering tobacco survive winter outside?

Time it to your frost dates: sow or plant out after the last spring frost, and aim to harvest before the first autumn frost. In short-season zones, start it indoors or under cover to stretch the effective growing window. Hardier crops in this group can be sown for an autumn or overwintered harvest in mild zones — check the specific crop.

How do I protect flowering tobacco from frost?

Use fleece, cloches or a cold frame at each end of the season to dodge a borderline frost and add growing weeks. Have row cover ready for an unexpected late spring or early autumn frost. Know your local last- and first-frost dates and count back the crop’s days-to-maturity to schedule the sowing.