Indian Tobacco

 

I have a strange visitor in my garden this year. 

This giant and very leafy green plant, which is a little over six foot tall at this point.

I don't ever recall it growing on my property before and I am not sure how it got here, but it is quite vigorous.

I asked a friend and he told me that it was wild tobacco.

I don't know much about it, do you? 

I did a little bit of research. The common name is Indian Tobacco (Nicotiana quadrivalis), if I have my species right and it is native to California.

It was smoked by our indigenous natives.

It is not related to the Indian tobacco found in the midwest, Lobelia inflata, which is in the bellflower family.

I see that mine is budding and I look forward to seeing its beautiful flowers.

Might not become a permanent guest, we will see how things shake out.