Facts About the Tobacco Plant

The tobacco plant is a pretty addition to the landscape.

Although people generally think of tobacco for smoking when they think of tobacco plants, some gardeners also grow them at home for ornamental purposes. Smoking causes many health problems, but gardeners sometimes still grow their own tobacco to smoke.

Geography

Tobacco grows best in sunny and warm areas.

Tobacco is native to North and South America. Tobacco plants grow best in sunny areas with good soil drainage, according to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. They prefer relatively warm climates, like the southern part of the U.S.

History

Native Americans used tobacco for multiple purposes, including religious practices and as a medicine. Native Americans gave some tobacco to Christopher Columbus; he brought it back to Europe, where it became popular. Cigarettes became popular in the 1800s and 1900s and tobacco became a money-making crop.

Warning

The University of Maryland Cancer Center warns that even homegrown tobacco causes many diseases including lung cancer, stomach cancer, bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer, kidney cancer, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It also contributes to heart disease and is addictive.

References

• University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences: Growing Tobacco in the Home Garden
• Boston University Medical Center: The History of Tobacco
• University of Minnesota Cancer Center: What's So Bad About Tobacco?