flowering tobacco: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Specialized/Technical, Horticultural
Quick answer
What does “flowering tobacco” mean?
A common name for plants of the genus Nicotiana, specifically ornamental species grown for their showy, often fragrant, tubular flowers, not primarily for tobacco production.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A common name for plants of the genus Nicotiana, specifically ornamental species grown for their showy, often fragrant, tubular flowers, not primarily for tobacco production.
This term can refer more broadly to any tobacco plant when it is in its blooming phase, though it is most strongly associated with ornamental cultivars like Nicotiana alata or Nicotiana sylvestris, used in horticulture for their aesthetic and sometimes fragrant qualities.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant semantic difference. UK English might be slightly more likely to use specific cultivar names in horticultural contexts. US English may be more likely to use the simple common name.
Connotations
Horticultural, botanical gardening; implies decorative purpose. In both varieties, it lacks the strong commercial/agricultural connotations of 'tobacco' alone.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse, but standard and common within gardening, horticulture, and plant nursery contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “flowering tobacco” in a Sentence
[Subject: gardener/horticulturist] + [Verb: grow/plant] + flowering tobacco + [Adjunct: in the border/bed][Subject: flowering tobacco] + [Verb: bloom/attract] + [Object: moths/hummingbirds]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “flowering tobacco” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The gardener is flowering tobacco along the path for evening scent.
American English
- She's planning to flower some tobacco near the patio to attract hummingbirds.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in the horticultural trade (seed packets, nursery catalogs) to market ornamental plants.
Academic
Used in botanical texts, horticultural papers, and plant taxonomy to refer to specific species within Nicotiana cultivated for flowers.
Everyday
Used by gardeners discussing plant choices for evening fragrance or decorative borders.
Technical
Used as a precise common name to distinguish ornamental species (e.g., Nicotiana alata) from the commercially grown Nicotiana tabacum.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “flowering tobacco”
- Using 'flower tobacco' (incorrect compound form).
- Confusing it with the primary agricultural crop 'tobacco'.
- Omitting the hyphen when using it as a pre-modifier (e.g., 'a flowering-tobacco plant' is correct but often seen unhyphenated).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are different species or cultivars within the same genus (Nicotiana). Flowering tobacco (e.g., Nicotiana alata) is bred for ornamental flowers, while commercial tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) is bred for large leaves.
Technically, the leaves contain nicotine, but they are not cultivated, cured, or processed for smoking. The leaves are often smaller and less palatable, and smoking them is not recommended and could be dangerous.
It typically blooms from early summer through to the first autumn frosts, with many varieties releasing their strongest fragrance in the evening or at night.
Yes, it is generally considered an easy-to-grow annual (or tender perennial in warm climates). It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil, often grown from seed.
A common name for plants of the genus Nicotiana, specifically ornamental species grown for their showy, often fragrant, tubular flowers, not primarily for tobacco production.
Flowering tobacco is usually specialized/technical, horticultural in register.
Flowering tobacco: in British English it is pronounced /ˈflaʊərɪŋ təˈbækəʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈflaʊərɪŋ təˈbækoʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'FLOWER-ing' is the key—this TOBACCO is grown for its FLOWERS, not for its leaves to be smoked.
Conceptual Metaphor
PLANT IS FOR AESTHETICS (versus PLANT IS FOR COMMODITY). The 'flowering' modifier changes the conceptual frame from agriculture/industry to decoration/pleasure.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of cultivating 'flowering tobacco'?