nicotiana
noun
ni·co·ti·a·na
ni-ˌkō-shē-ˈa-nə 
-ˈä-nə
-ˈä-nə
-ˈā-nə
: any of several tobaccos (such as Nicotiana alata) grown for their showy flowers
Examples of nicotiana in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Other annuals that self-sow are Verbena bonariensis (tall verbena), nicotiana, calendula and various poppies (including the breadseed or opium poppy, Papaver somniferum).
—
Margaret Roach, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2020
Flowers to start: Asters, nicotiana, cleome, ice plant, zinnia, salpiglossis, schizanthus, nigella, phlox, nemesia, marigold, nasturtiums
Geese, seagulls, thrushes: This is the week!
—Jeff Lowenfels, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Apr. 2020
Among flowers, good bets are breadseed or ladybird poppies, California poppies, foxglove, nigella, columbine, nicotiana, bachelor’s buttons, cosmos, coreopsis, calendula and scabiosa.
—Pam Peirce, SFChronicle.com, 6 July 2018
For spring and summer flowers, plant seed for aster, cornflower, cosmos, larkspur, nasturtium, nicotiana, periwinkle, portulaca, rudbeckia, salvia, snapdragon, verbena and zinnias.
—Debbie Arrington, sacbee, 2 Mar. 2018
Cyclamen, foxglove, nicotiana, forget-me-not, lobelia and primrose are good for the shadier spots (about two hours of direct sun or dappled light).
—NOLA.com, 28 Oct. 2017
Try planting dahlia, French marigold, nicotiana, evening primrose, thyme, raspberry, or honeysuckle.
—Emily O'Brien, Good Housekeeping, 20 Oct. 2016
Indicator proteins glow under ultraviolet light on the leaves of the nicotiana benthamiana plant, which is a close relative of tobacco, as a means to assess the success of bacteria spread at Icon Genetics, August 14, 2014, in Halle, Germany.
—Zoë Schlanger, Newsweek, 15 Dec. 2014
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Margaret Roach, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2020
Flowers to start: Asters, nicotiana, cleome, ice plant, zinnia, salpiglossis, schizanthus, nigella, phlox, nemesia, marigold, nasturtiums
Geese, seagulls, thrushes: This is the week!
—Jeff Lowenfels, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Apr. 2020
Among flowers, good bets are breadseed or ladybird poppies, California poppies, foxglove, nigella, columbine, nicotiana, bachelor’s buttons, cosmos, coreopsis, calendula and scabiosa.
—Pam Peirce, SFChronicle.com, 6 July 2018
For spring and summer flowers, plant seed for aster, cornflower, cosmos, larkspur, nasturtium, nicotiana, periwinkle, portulaca, rudbeckia, salvia, snapdragon, verbena and zinnias.
—Debbie Arrington, sacbee, 2 Mar. 2018
Cyclamen, foxglove, nicotiana, forget-me-not, lobelia and primrose are good for the shadier spots (about two hours of direct sun or dappled light).
—NOLA.com, 28 Oct. 2017
Try planting dahlia, French marigold, nicotiana, evening primrose, thyme, raspberry, or honeysuckle.
—Emily O'Brien, Good Housekeeping, 20 Oct. 2016
Indicator proteins glow under ultraviolet light on the leaves of the nicotiana benthamiana plant, which is a close relative of tobacco, as a means to assess the success of bacteria spread at Icon Genetics, August 14, 2014, in Halle, Germany.
—Zoë Schlanger, Newsweek, 15 Dec. 2014
Cite this Entry
“Nicotiana.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nicotiana. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
Nicotiana
noun
Ni·co·ti·ana
ni-ˌkō-shē-ˈan-ə
: a genus of American and Asian herbs or shrubs of the family Solanaceae that have viscid foliage, tubular flowers, and a many-seeded capsule and that include the cultivated tobacco (N. tabacum)
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share