Nicotiana Attenuata

Coyote tobacco is a tall annual of western North America, often appearing in large colonies after wildfire or soil disturbance. Sticky leaves form a basal rosette before upright stems carry creamy white tubular flowers, sometimes tinged green or purple, opening around dusk or early morning. Nicotiana attenuata is a scientific model for studying how plants communicate with pollinators, defend themselves from herbivores and respond to neighbours. Its ecological story is extraordinary, but every part contains toxic nicotine and it should be grown only as an ornamental research curiosity.