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| ## Indian tobacco {#indian-tobacco .Title-Header}                     |
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| *Lobelia inflata* L.                                                  |
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| Plant Symbol = LOIN                                                   |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center

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#### Use

*Ethnobotanic*: The root of this plant was used by the Iroquois to treat
venereal diseases, ulcers, and legs sores. The leaves were smashed and
applied as a poultice to treat an abscess at the side of the neck. The
plant was used to counteract sickness produced by witchcraft. The
Cherokee mashed the roots of Indian tobacco and used them as a poultice
for body aches. The leaves were rubbed on sores, aches, stiff necks, and
chapped places. The Crow used the plant in religious ceremonies.

*Wildlife*: Birds are attracted to the nectar, such as hummingbirds.
Young seedlings provide browsing for deer and other grazing animals.

#### Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status, such as, state noxious status
and wetland indicator values.

#### Description

*General:* Bellflower Family (Campanulaceae). This annual plant is up to
1 m. high with branched, hairy stems. The leaves are sessile or
subsessile and toothed. They are ovate-oblong to oblong-obovate. The
irregular, two-lipped flowers are blue or white, 6-8 mm. The lower lip
is bearded at the base within. The flowers appear in racemes terminating
the branches. The fruiting hypanthium is
inflated.![](media/image2.png){width="1.5625in"
height="3.8020833333333335in"}

#### Distribution

This plant is found in open woods or sometimes in gardens as weeds from
the West Coast to Minnesota, south to Georgia and Mississippi. For
current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this
species on the PLANTS Web site.

#### Establishment

*Propagation by seeds*: The seeds will germinate without cold
stratification, but they need light, so sow the seeds in a flat with a
damp fine grade peat lite mix. Keep the flats moist and under lights or
in a greenhouse. They should green up in a few weeks. Transplant
seedlings in 4-6 weeks into individual pots such as 70 cell plug trays,
use the same potting mix and keep fertilizing. The seedlings are tiny at
first, so fertilize them every other week with a liquid fertilizer.
After another 4 weeks they can be put out in the garden or transplanted
into 4 to 6 inch diameter pots Plant the seedlings in an outdoor spot
that is in full sun or very light shade and never allow soil to dry out
completely. Space the plants 8 to 12 inches apart. Add plenty of peat
moss when planting and mulch well to keep the soil cool and moist.
Protect the plants from deer. Indian tobacco will usually bloom in the
first year and seeds should be allowed to self-sow. Young seedlings are
heavy feeders and will require compost or fertilizer applications during
the growing season.

*Propagation by cuttings*: During early spring take two node stem
cuttings (4-6 inches) before the flowers open and remove the lower leaf
and half of the upper leaf. Treat the cutting with a chemical, place the
cuttings in a sand and perlite medium, cover lightly, and water.
Planting trays should be watered and kept moist to aid in root
development. Roots will form in 2-3 weeks, but the cuttings need to
force a good new crown from the lower node to successfully over-winter.

#### Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

Seeds and plants of selected Indian tobacco are available from many
nurseries. It is best to plant species from your local area, adapted to
the specific site conditions where the plants are to be grown. Contact
your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil
Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone
book under "United States Government." The Natural Resources
Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading "Department of
Agriculture."

#### References

Banks, W.H. 1953*. Ethnobotany of the Cherokee Indians*. Masters Thesis,
University of Tennessee.

Blankinship, J.W. 1905. *Native economic plants of Montana.* Montana
Agricultural College Experimental Station, Bulletin 56, Bozeman,
Montana.

Gleason, H.A. & A. Cronquist 1991. *Manual of vascular plants of
Northeastern United States and adjacent Canada.* Second Edition. The New
York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York.

Herrick, J.W. 1995. *Iroquois medical botany.* Syracuse University
Press, Syracuse, New York.

Moerman, D.E. 1998. *Native American ethnobotany*. Timber Press,
Portland, Oregon.

#### Prepared by and Species Coordinator

##### *M. Kat Anderson*

USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center

c/o Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis,
California

Edited 05dec00 jsp; 21may03 ahv; 060802 jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
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*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
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*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
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