Are Nicotiana perennials?

I thought they were annuals?

But after the mild winter all the Nicotiana sylvestris & N. langsdorffii are sprouting from the base. I thought they must be self-sown, but they are definitely coming from the original stems as the "tops" were not removed over winter (now dead, but the "sticks" are still there)

I know last winter was mild, but does this in fact happen more often than I have realised that it could?

 

I've never got either through the winter (ever) so I'm interested to see how they do.

N.glauca (tree Nicotiana) on the other hand is romping away at the moment - 2.5 metres and counting!

 

Yes, they have sometimes over-wintered for me, but not seen anything this year. However, the plants don't seem to do as well as freshly-sown ones.

Got a load of N glaucas going, looking forward to them but they are more at the 2.5" level so far.

 

Oh lordy - did I tuck you up with them? Great plant IMO to be serious for a moment or two.
Strangely, not one langsdorfii or sylvestris has self seeded this year.

 

Ah, good point. I will plant fresh amongst them and compare

 

The new sown ones get big, lush and fluffy looking quite quickly but the old ones take ages and never seem to quite make it. See what you think, anyway.

@longk, I'm worried now!

 

When you mentioned it earlier it reminded me that I've seen this effect before, and my recollection is that they didn't grow well in 2nd year ... I'll top-up with fresh ones, and then be able to see how the old ones do - without missing out on a decent show

 

Nicotiana is classed as an annual. I grow them from seed every year but haven't attempted to over winter them.

 

I wasn't attempting to over winter them either - but rather being a lazy so-and-so I didn't bother to dig them up last Autumn

 

I left my Nigella last year and my borders are full of them this year. I always leave plants to die off and clear in spring, read somewhere it can give protection to other plants that need it through winter.

 

I'm just worried as to how many that you have germinating! They germinated like cress for me and I've been harsh - only got twelve to overwinter!

 

For hollow stemmed plants (such as perennial Lobelia) it's good practise as it stops winter wet running into the heart of the plant and rotting it out. Here's my Lobelia tupa which is considered a bit borderline hardy today.........................


It's three years old from seed and getting a bit too big now.

 

I saw a recommendation the other to not cut down Penstemons - helps them survive much better if they are trimmed in Spring rather than Autumn

He can be very irreverent and non-PC:

 

I've got some self sown Nicotiana (sylvestris) that are still small-ish ... any mileage in digging them up and potting for the winter for a flying start next year?

 

Nope!
That is just my opinion though. But look at fresh sown ones - they don't really get going until July anyway. Self seeders are late to germinate but always seem to catch up with the ones that I grew from seed. The only reason for cultivate any yourself is just as a back up in case the self seeders are a no show.
I also suspect that they may be liable to mildew.