'Shirazi' Tobacco

Nicotiana tabacum Origin: Shiraz, Iran Improvement status: Cultivar Seeds per packet: ~100 Germination tested 08/2024: 97% Life cycle: Annual Shirazi' is a beautiful Iranian tobacco variety originally from the city of Shiraz (most famous for the grape variety of the same name). It is classed as Turkish-style tobacco (also called "Oriental"), though it has larger, thicker leaves than most other Turkish varieties. It's different enough in form that it was once considered a different species ("Nicotiana persica"). It is also said to have a high nicotine content. The plant is beautiful, with striking trumpet-shaped flowers beloved by many pollinators. Our friends at Adaptive Seeds say that it is apparently "easy to cure out here in the West" (they are based in Oregon) and that "it doesn't require a complicated fermentation process to taste good." Plants are relatively stout — 4-5ft tall — and will grow best in full sun.NOTE: Tobacco is an intensely poisonous plant. Do not ever eat it. And