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Desert Tobacco

Nicotinia obtusifolia

true

1 gallon; 3 gallon

Desert Tobacco

In stock

3'x3'

Sizes:

Desert Tobacco – Nicotiana obtusifolia
Also known as: Punche; Desert Wild Tobacco

Desert Tobacco is a sticky, herbaceous subshrub or annual native to the arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. This bushy plant grows up to 3 feet tall and is commonly found below 5,000 feet in sandy or rocky washes, desert flats, and disturbed soils throughout the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts, including the Coachella Valley. Its adaptability to disturbance makes it an important native colonizer in revegetation and restoration efforts.

The plant features large, oblong, sticky green leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers that are typically greenish-white to pale yellow. The entire plant is densely covered in glandular hairs. Blooming mainly in spring and summer, it can flower year-round with supplemental water. Seed capsules produce numerous tiny brown seeds. Like other members of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), this species contains alkaloids and should not be ingested by pets or children.

Historically, Desert Tobacco was cultivated by Indigenous peoples across the Southwest for ceremonial and medicinal uses. The plant was sometimes referred to as punche by Spanish Americans, who prized it as a cultivated source of tobacco. It remains significant in many tribal cultures for prayer, offerings, and purification.

Wildlife Value
Host Plant: Tobacco Hornworm (Manduca sexta); Five-spotted Hawkmoth (Manduca quinquemaculata)
Nectar Source: Confirmed for sphinx moths and other nocturnal pollinators; occasional use by native bees
Bird Resources: Insects; Caterpillars
Bird Species: Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps); Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Polioptila melanura)

Plant Care

Native region:

Local Native

Water needs:

Low

Exposure:

Full Sun

Mature size:

3'x3'

Growth rate:

Fast

Flower color:

Greenish White - Pale Yellow

Flower season:

Spring

Pruning:

None

Cold Hardiness:

10 Degrees

Nectar-producing:

Yes

Attracts pollinators:

Yes

Nighttime pollinators:

Butterflies or Moths:

Yes

Monarchs:

Larval host:

Yes

Bees:

Yes

Bats:

Birds:

Yes

Nest site:

Nest materials:

Rabbit-resistant:

Yes

Tortoises:

Growing Plants in the Desert — Important Information

The information presented here is, to the best of my knowledge, accurate and based on reliable research, personal experience in my own garden, observations from other gardens I’ve visited, and time spent studying plants in their native habitats. I always welcome your feedback and experiences to help me continue educating others!

Cacti:
In my experience, cacti are much happier in filtered shade here in the low desert of the Coachella Valley. Their colors are more vibrant and they tend to bloom more profusely, especially the non-native varieties. If you look closely at how our native barrel cactus and beavertail prickly pear grow in the wild, you’ll often find them tucked among rocks or beneath the shelter of creosote and other shrubs.

⚠️ A note of caution: Cacti and succulents are often illegally collected from the wild, which not only damages plant populations but also disturbs entire ecosystems. In some cases, wild populations of cacti have even gone extinct because of this practice. When purchasing these plants, always be sure they’ve been legally obtained. Look for nursery-grown stock or plants with a native plant certification, and keep that documentation for your records.

Light Requirements:
In our desert (Sonoran/Colorado), “full sun” doesn’t always mean what you might think. Many so-called full-sun plants benefit from and actually appreciate some late-afternoon filtered light—especially during the intense summer months.