Heirloom

Bronze Queen

Nicotiana langsdorffii

Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Bell-shaped, chocolate-purple blooms dance on contrasting bright green stems. Long stems add movement and interest to arrangements. Nicotiana flowers continuously for most of the season when cut back regularly. Blooms are relatively fragile and have a short vase life (5-7 days), making them best for casual bouquets, design work (not requiring a long vase life) and home cutting gardens. A favorite of pollinators and hummingbirds. Also known as flowering tobacco.

Harvest

70-80d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun

☀️

Zones

1–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

3-4 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Showing dates for Bronze Queen in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

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Bronze Queen · Zones 1–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing18-24 inches

SoilWell-draining loam enriched with compost

WaterRegular; consistently moist but not waterlogged

SeasonWarm season annual

ColorChocolate-purple

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 1	May – June	July – August	July – September	—
Zone 2	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 11	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 12	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 13	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 3	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 4	March – April	June – June	June – July	—
Zone 5	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 6	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 7	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 8	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 9	January – February	March – April	March – May	—
Zone 10	January – January	February – March	February – April	—

Complete Growing Guide

Growing Bronze Queen (Nicotiana langsdorffii) flower. Light: Full sun. Hardy in USDA zones 1 to 11. Days to maturity: 70. Difficulty: Easy.

Harvesting

Bronze Queen reaches harvest at 70 - 80 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

This is an ornamental variety — not grown for harvest. Enjoy in the garden landscape.

Storage & Preservation

Fresh Bronze Queen blooms last 5-7 days in water at room temperature, or 7-10 days if refrigerated at 34-40°F in a cool room away from ripening fruit (which produces ethylene gas that wilts flowers). Use clean vases, change water every 2-3 days, and trim stem ends at a diagonal angle to maximize water uptake. Strip all foliage below the waterline.

For preservation, air-dry flowers by hanging small bunches upside-down in a warm, dark, well-ventilated space for 2-3 weeks; dried Bronze Queen flowers retain color and can be used in dried arrangements indefinitely. Alternatively, press flowers between parchment paper under weights for 2-3 weeks to preserve them flat for crafts or pressed-flower art. Freezing is not practical for ornamental flowers. Dried blooms work beautifully in potpourri or as decorative accents in herbal crafts.

History & Origin

Nicotiana langsdorffii, Langsdorff's tobacco, is a species of flowering plant in the nightshade family Solanaceae, native to Brazil. Growing to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) tall by 0.5 m (1.6 ft) broad, it is an annual plant with large sticky leaves up to 10 in (25 cm) long. It bears 2 in (5.1 cm) long, nodding, tubular bell-shaped flowers that are apple green in colour, with blue anthers. N. langsdorfii lacks fragrance, unlike some of the other tall species. It is grown as an ornamental garden plant.

Advantages

+Stunning chocolate-purple blooms contrast beautifully with bright green stems
+Continuous flowering throughout season when regularly deadheaded or cut back
+Long stems perfect for adding movement and visual interest to arrangements
+Highly attractive to pollinators and hummingbirds, supporting garden ecosystems
+Easy to grow with minimal care requirements for beginners

Considerations

-Very short vase life of only 5-7 days limits commercial appeal
-Fragile blooms unsuitable for formal arrangements requiring extended longevity
-Requires regular cutting back to maintain continuous blooming performance

Companion Plants

Marigolds (especially Tagetes patula) and nasturtiums do real work alongside Bronze Queen. Marigolds emit thiophenes from their roots that deter soil nematodes, and their flowers draw in predatory wasps that take on the same aphids and whiteflies that target Nicotiana. Nasturtiums act as a trap crop — aphids genuinely prefer them and pile on first, which keeps pressure off your Bronze Queen without any intervention from you. Sweet alyssum and catmint pull in hoverflies and lacewings within a 3-4 foot radius; the larvae of both species are voracious aphid predators, so planting them nearby adds a layer of biological control you don't have to manage.

Black walnut is a hard no — juglone, the compound it releases through roots and decomposing leaf litter, damages a wide range of plants, and Nicotiana is sensitive enough that even a tree 30 feet away can cause wilting and decline. Sunflowers aren't as severe, but they compete aggressively for shallow soil moisture and are known hosts for Alternaria leaf spot fungi that spread readily to neighboring plants.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel nematodes and aphids while attracting beneficial insects

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and parasitic wasps

Zinnia

Attracts pollinators and beneficial predatory insects

Cosmos

Provides habitat for beneficial insects and adds vertical interest

Catmint

Repels ants, aphids, and rodents while attracting pollinators

Lavender

Deters pests with aromatic oils and attracts beneficial pollinators

Petunias

Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, and other garden pests

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone toxin that inhibits growth of many flowering plants

Eucalyptus

Releases allelopathic compounds that suppress nearby plant growth

Sunflowers

Can produce allelopathic compounds and compete aggressively for nutrients

Pests & Disease Resistance

Common Pests

Whiteflies, spider mites, aphids

Diseases

Powdery mildew (in humid conditions), leaf spot fungi

Troubleshooting Bronze Queen

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Leaves stippled silver or bronze, with fine webbing on the undersides, especially during hot dry stretches

Likely Causes

Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) — populations explode when temperatures stay above 85°F and humidity drops
Water stress making plants more susceptible

What to Do

1.Blast the undersides of leaves with a strong stream of water every 2-3 days — it knocks mites off and they rarely climb back
2.Keep soil consistently moist; drought-stressed plants attract heavier mite pressure
3.If the infestation is bad, apply insecticidal soap (2 tablespoons per gallon of water) in the early morning, coating leaf undersides thoroughly

White powdery coating on upper leaf surfaces, usually appearing mid-summer when nights cool down

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew — most likely Erysiphe or Golovinomyces spp. — thrives when days are warm and nights drop below 65°F
Poor airflow from crowded planting at less than 18-inch spacing

What to Do

1.Remove and trash the worst-affected leaves immediately — don't compost them
2.Thin plants or stake neighboring plants back to restore airflow between stems
3.Spray with a baking soda solution (1 teaspoon baking soda + 1 teaspoon horticultural oil per quart of water) weekly as a preventive once you see the first signs

Sticky residue on stems and leaves, with small clusters of pale soft-bodied insects at growing tips and flower buds

Likely Causes

Aphids — likely green peach aphid (Myzus persicae), which is strongly attracted to Nicotiana species
Ant activity farming aphid colonies, protecting them from predators

What to Do

1.Pinch off and discard the most heavily infested growing tips
2.Spray affected areas with insecticidal soap, making sure to coat the stem joints where aphids cluster — repeat every 4-5 days for 2-3 rounds
3.Check for ant trails and, if present, use a sticky band around pot rims or nearby stakes to cut off their access to the colonies

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Bronze Queen Nicotiana take to bloom from seed?▼

Bronze Queen reaches peak flowering 70-80 days from planting. If you start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date and transplant after frost danger passes, you'll have blooming plants by mid-to-late summer. Direct sowing after last frost extends timing by 1-2 weeks. Blooms continue prolifically through fall until frost if deadheaded regularly.

Is Bronze Queen Nicotiana good for beginners?▼

Yes. Bronze Queen is an easy-to-grow heirloom that tolerates beginner mistakes well. It germinates reliably, needs no special starting equipment, and thrives on basic care: full sun, consistent watering, and occasional deadheading. The main challenge for new gardeners is avoiding the temptation to skip deadheading—regular removal of spent blooms is the key to continuous flowering.

Can you grow Bronze Queen in containers or pots?▼

Yes, Bronze Queen grows well in containers 12+ inches deep and wide. Use quality potting soil (not garden soil), which drains faster in pots and reduces rot risk. Container plants dry faster than in-ground plants, so check soil moisture daily, especially in heat. Fertilize every 2-3 weeks since watering leaches nutrients from pots. Deadhead faithfully for the same continuous bloom as ground-planted varieties.

Why are my Bronze Queen flowers drooping or wilting after cutting?▼

Bronze Queen flowers are naturally delicate and wilt quickly in warm air or out of water. Harvest in early morning when stems are fully hydrated. Immediately place cut stems in clean, room-temperature water; remove all foliage below the waterline. Avoid handling petals—even slight bruising causes visible discoloration. Expect 5-7 days of vase life; this is normal for the variety, not a sign of improper care.

What does Bronze Queen Nicotiana need to flower continuously?▼

Bronze Queen needs three things for non-stop blooming: (1) full sun—at least 6 hours daily; (2) consistent moisture—water when the top inch of soil dries; (3) deadheading—remove spent flowers every 2-3 days. Neglecting deadheading allows the plant to produce seeds, which signals flowering to slow. Regular fertilizing (every 3-4 weeks with balanced formula) also sustains heavy flowering.

Can you save seeds from Bronze Queen Nicotiana?▼

Yes. Allow some flowers to fade on the plant rather than deadheading them. Once flower petals drop, seed pods develop and mature over 3-4 weeks, turning brown and papery. Cut the entire seed head and hang in a dry place indoors. Once fully dry (2-3 weeks), crack open pods and collect thousands of tiny seeds. Store in cool, dry conditions in a sealed jar; seeds remain viable for 3-5 years.