Item Tag: NightShade Farm

Heirloom Hopi Heirloom Tobacco Seeds Nicotiana Rustica Organically grown at NightShade Farm in California. Approximately 100 seeds per Pack. (Seed count is not exact.) Used ceremoniously for centuries by Native American peoples, as well as many other Native Peoples across the Americas. Caution: Up to 10% Nicotine content in mature plants. My Entheogenic seed sales help support Erowid: Information, Knowledge, Awareness Item: Heirloom, organic, traditional HOPI tobacco seeds. Nicotiana rustica. Annual to biennial (many of my plants bloomed all winter in spite of many frosts). Seeds are grown by me at NightShade Farm here in the Bay Area. Time from seedling to bloom is about two to three months. Growth is slow at first as they develop deep roots very quickly, then the main stalk will grow fast and support huge, thick, hairy, oblong leaves on a short frame. In time, they may fall over if not staked. The Aztec differs from the Hopi variety in numerous ways (I have grown both). The Aztec rustica is taller, has pointy leaves with a curl to the edges, seems to tolerate frost well, and is more vulnerable to pests. The leaves get munched and the seeds pods are vulnerable to a worm. I conclude that the nicotine content is less than that of the Hopi variety, and hence it is likely more smokeable and less suited for pesticide use. The Aztecs lived in more temperate forests, but also at altitude in some locales. This variety survived numerous light frosts that killed my other tropicals in winter and kept flowering all winter long. Only the tips were killed. This is the original, native-cultivated Central American tobacco. The rustica is what the now common and highly cultivated hybrid plant known as N. tabacum was developed. Rustica grows up to four feet high and produces many clusters of yellow flowers which are pollinated by humming birds. Its leaves are dark green, thick, sticky, slightly oblong with pointed ends, with small hairs, and about six inches in diameter on average. The plant produces a noticeable odor that some may find unpleasant and others mildly intoxicating. My female carpenter bees seem to find it intoxicating, as they hover around it for up to an hour without ever landing… the males seem indifferent, like it was made of chocolate… Suitable for containers, but the deep roots will stunt the growth if not allowed to roam. Self seeding. High pollination and germination rates. Young plants are vulnerable to drought, wind, harsh sun and heavy rain. Although deep rooted even when young, they are tender at first. Direct sow or plant in peat pots to avoid transplant shock. Being in the Nightshade family, their needs are similar to tomatoes, and growing them is quite similar. Prefers full sun and deep watering that is not overhead, as that make knock the plants over. Some South American peoples have used a concentrated infusion of this heirloom tobacco to poison their hunting arrows. When powdered, the leaves can also be used to make a potent, nicotine-based insecticide. Rustica is considered toxic to ingest in any form. Those trying to smoke it will likely be rendered unconscious from nicotine poisoning. Native peoples mixed it with sweet grass and mint and other mellowing herbs and did not inhale deeply on the rare occasion of smoking a traditional “peace” pipe made of bloodstone. Adapted from Wikipedia: Nicotiana rustica, known in South America as Mapacho and in Vietnam as Thuoc Lao (thuốc lào), is a plant in the Solanaceae family. It is a very potent species of tobacco. The high concentration of nicotine in its leaves makes it useful for creating organic pesticides. Rustica is also used for entheogenic purposes by South American shamans. Growing in the rainforest it contains up to nine times more nicotine than common North American varieties such as N. tabacum. Other reasons for its shamanic use are the comparatively high levels of MAOI beta-carbolines, including the Harmala alkaloids, harman and norharman. Most commonly, it is allowed to soak in water, and the water is then insufflated; it is also smoked in cigars and used as an enema and as an anthelmintic effective against tapeworm infections. In the southeastern part of Turkey, people use this herb and ashes of some trees to make a snuff called “Maraş Out.” They use this by putting it under their lips like Swedish snus. Rustica is also a common admixture of Ayahuasca in some parts of the rainforest.In Russia, N. rustica is called “makhorka” (махорка). It was smoked casually by the lower classes before common tobacco became widely available after WWII, and is still smoked by some peasants and farmers today. Nicotiana rustica leaves have a nicotine content as high as 9%, whereas Nicotiana tabacum (common tobacco) leaves contain about 1 to 3%. Cigarette companies add nicotine to their product. Photo NOTE: Plant photos above are copyright. Actual plants that seeds are coming from. These are viable seeds with a high but sporadic germination rate, just like most Nightshades. I once had a flat of tomatoes that sprouted. I pulled all the young plants out to go into pots and set the remains of the tray aside. When I accidentally hit it with the garden hose a week or two later, at least a dozen new tomatoes sprouted from the dead remains. I also had a six pack of peppers fail to sprout at all. I reused the potting soil in a new homemade batch, and two weeks later noticed all the peppers sprouting up all over in pots that were now growing other plants. Nearly all the seeds failed, but then weeks later, nearly all of them sprouted. Nightshades are really peculiar in this way. The genetics make the seeds sprout at different times to ensure the survival of the species, so be aware that seemingly dead seeds that are well watered and seem dead can come to life with one watering weeks after you have given up. Favorite bumper sticker: God made plants; Big Pharma makes drugs. Whom do you trust? see Genesis 1:29 “Then God Said: I give you all the seed-bearing plants… they shall be yours for food.” Another sacred offering from Datura Don’s NightShade Farm and White Buffalo Trading Co: Heirloom Seeds and organic botanicals. I am an herbalist, trained shaman, and master gardener. I belong to Millions Against Monsanto, and financially support Erowid the org. Domestic Shipping, Tips & Trips: Additional packs ship free if you use the Shopping Cart correctly. USPS Priority mail always available for the customer to choose. Thanks for Looking and Many Blessings on your Journey!