On Sun, 15 May 2005 22:17:00 +0100, Dave Poole
wrote:

Nick Maclaren) wrote:

I think that I may have some that has resprouted from its roots - i.e.
has overwintered herbaceously. Is this plausible, or is it some weed
that just looks like Nicotiana affinis? I know that the latter is a
perennial in its native land, but not how it grows there.

Most likely it is N. affinis Nick. It can easily re sprout from
ground level after a mild winter especially the green, pale pink or
white forms. Nicotianas are more or less perennial here at least for
3 or 4 years. I've had the lime green form survive many times, but it
is not so good a perennial as N. langsdorfii, which I prefer in any
case. However, the strongest growers are usually 1st year seedlings
so there's no great advantage in retaining them. I say 'usually'
advisedly because some years ago, a 3rd year sylvestris grew into an
enormous plant well over 8 feet high with 40" leaves and carrying many
hundreds of flowers constantly for several months. I saved the seed
half hoping I might have stumbled upon a mammoth strain, but nothing
spectacular came of them or from their progeny.

Dave Poole
Torquay, Coastal South Devon UK
Winter min -2°C. Summer max 34°C.
Growing season: March - November

If you wants an ever bigger variety, go straight for the big daddy of
Nicotiana, N. Tabacum. A striking plant, man-high, with big
banana-like leaves like a soft-leaved canna, and rosy, pinkish-purple
tubular flowers at the top. It is the kind of plant you might grow
with dahlias and cannas for a late season semi-tropical display, as a
green foil for more colourful plants. Seemingly the leaves can be put
to good use too, after drying and curing.