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Nicotiana attenuata

Torr. ex S. Wats.

Coyote Tobacco

G5Secure Found in 123 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.149397
Element CodePDSOL0M030
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderSolanales
FamilySolanaceae
GenusNicotiana
Other Common Names
coyote tobacco (EN) Tabac des coyotes (FR)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-03-04
Change Date2025-03-04
Edition Date2025-03-04
Edition AuthorsRusso, Mary (TNC WRO), rev. N. Ventrella (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Nicotiana attenuata is an annual forb occurring on sandy slopes, banks, rocky outcrops, and disturbed places of western North America from British Columbia, Canada south from Washington and Montana to California and Texas in the United States, and through Baja and Sonora, Mexico. There are over 900 estimated occurrences of this species, which are likely threatened by development, road maintenance, invasive species, and other threats in some places. Little is known about threats or trends, but with a large range extent and high number of occurrences, Nicotiana attenuata is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Nicotiana attenuata occurs in western North America, from British Columbia, Canada south from Washington and Montana to California and Texas in the United States, and through Baja and Sonora, Mexico (FNA 2023). Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1994 and 2025 (RARECAT 2024, GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are more than 900 occurrences rangewide (RARECAT 2024, GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, Nicotiana attenuata is potentially threatened by development, road maintenance, invasive species, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats, as well as no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Nicotiana attenuata occurs on "sandy slopes, banks and rocky outcrops, disturbed places, often appearing after fire" (FNA 2023). In California, it occurs in many habitat types, including pine forests, woodlands, chaparral, grasslands, and riparian communities (CalFlora 2025).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest EdgeShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousDesert
Palustrine Habitats
FORESTED WETLANDRiparian
Other Nations (2)
CanadaNU
ProvinceRankNative
British ColumbiaSUYes
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
New MexicoSNRYes
CaliforniaSNRYes
ArizonaSNRYes
ColoradoS3Yes
OregonSNRYes
WyomingS2Yes
IdahoSNRYes
UtahSNRYes
TexasSNRYes
WashingtonS2Yes
MontanaSNRYes
NevadaS4Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
Unknown/undetermined———

—

Plant Characteristics
DurationANNUAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (123)
Arizona (8)
AreaForestAcres
Blind Indian CreekPrescott National Forest26,847
Burro CanyonKaibab National Forest19,928
Connell MountainsPrescott National Forest7,926
FritschePrescott National Forest14,190
HellsgateTonto National Forest6,171
Sheridan MountainPrescott National Forest37,600
Sierra Ancha Wilderness ContiguousTonto National Forest7,787
Willis CanyonKaibab National Forest9,688
California (73)
AreaForestAcres
AntimonyLos Padres National Forest40,911
Birch CreekInyo National Forest28,816
Black CanyonInyo National Forest32,421
ButtermilkInyo National Forest542
CajonSan Bernardino National Forest7,548
CalienteCleveland National Forest5,953
Callahan FlowModoc National Forest6,618
ChannellSequoia National Forest45,429
ChicoSequoia National Forest39,836
Chineese Camp (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,339
Circle MountainSan Bernardino National Forest6,375
Coyote NorthInyo National Forest11,932
Crystal CreekSan Bernardino National Forest6,783
Cutca ValleyCleveland National Forest14,530
Deep CreekSan Bernardino National Forest23,869
Devil's Gate (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest9,946
Dexter CanyonInyo National Forest17,053
DomeStanislaus National Forest11,085
EagleStanislaus National Forest16,116
Excelsior (CA)Inyo National Forest45,607
FalesHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest9,138
Fish CanyonAngeles National Forest29,886
Glass MountainInyo National Forest52,867
GrangerModoc National Forest23
Granite PeakSan Bernardino National Forest450
Greenhorn CreekSequoia National Forest28,226
Hall Natural AreaInyo National Forest5,236
Heartbreak RidgeSan Bernardino National Forest4,455
Hixon FlatSan Bernardino National Forest8,095
Hoover - NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,574
Horse Creek RidgeSan Bernardino National Forest8,969
Horse Mdw.Inyo National Forest5,687
HortonInyo National Forest5,717
Iceberg - Mill CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest26,988
Iceberg - SlinkardHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,551
LavasModoc National Forest25,864
Lion RidgeSequoia National Forest5,265
Log Cabin SaddlebagInyo National Forest15,165
Mill CreekSequoia National Forest27,643
Mill PeakSan Bernardino National Forest7,884
Mokelumne - SprattHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest613
Mt. JacksonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest20,721
Mt. OlsenInyo National Forest2,161
Mt. Shasta BShasta-Trinity National Forest2,809
Nevahbe RidgeInyo National Forest302
North LakeInyo National Forest2,406
PaiuteInyo National Forest58,712
Pine CreekCleveland National Forest503
Pleasant ViewAngeles National Forest26,395
Pyramid Peak BSan Bernardino National Forest7,194
Raywood Flat BSan Bernardino National Forest11,373
RinconSequoia National Forest54,610
Rock Creek WestInyo National Forest3,626
Rouse HillSan Bernardino National Forest13,745
Salt CreekAngeles National Forest11,022
Sawmill - BadlandsLos Padres National Forest51,362
Sespe - FrazierLos Padres National Forest106,910
Sheep MountainAngeles National Forest21,098
SherwinInyo National Forest3,140
SinkardHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,004
Slate Mtn.Sequoia National Forest12,299
South SierraInyo National Forest41,853
SugarloafSan Bernardino National Forest8,206
Table Mtn.Inyo National Forest4,215
TinemahaInyo National Forest27,060
West Walker (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest495
Wheeler RidgeInyo National Forest15,744
Whisky CreekInyo National Forest865
Wild Horse Mtn. (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest28,822
Wilderness ContiguousMendocino National Forest3,606
Wonoga Pk.Inyo National Forest11,272
WoodpeckerSequoia National Forest11,936
WoolstaffSequoia National Forest41,445
Nevada (27)
AreaForestAcres
Alta T - WestHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest3,445
Angel Peak NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest12,577
Angel Peak SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest6,540
Bald Mtn.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest41,598
Bunker HillHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest27,569
ButlerHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest39,470
Butler Mtn.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest25,878
Chineese Camp (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest15,207
Fourmile HillHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest15,718
Humboldt - SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest11,152
Jobs Peak (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,342
Long ValleyHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest50,472
Lovell Summit SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest28,455
North Shoshone PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest40,667
Pearl PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest71,405
Pine Grove SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest88,945
Rose - EvansHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,782
Rough CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest8,476
Ruby - Lamoille CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest32,771
Snake - Big WashHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,146
Snake - Peacock CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,069
South SchellHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest125,614
Spanish PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest31,520
The Cove 1Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,847
Toiyabe RangeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest99,225
Wellington HillsHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest21,009
West Walker (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,683
New Mexico (2)
AreaForestAcres
Devils CreekGila National Forest89,916
Meadow CreekGila National Forest34,167
Utah (13)
AreaForestAcres
418016Uinta National Forest35,240
418017Uinta National Forest19,631
City CreekFishlake National Forest13,939
CottonwoodDixie National Forest6,754
Dairy ForkManti-Lasal National Forest30,222
Kane MountainDixie National Forest8,013
LangdonFishlake National Forest12,160
Marysvale PeakFishlake National Forest22,624
MogotsuDixie National Forest16,762
Moody WashDixie National Forest31,835
Pine Valley MountainsDixie National Forest57,673
Signal PeakFishlake National Forest30,889
Stoddard MountainDixie National Forest13,165
References (9)
  1. CalFlora. 2025. Information on California plants for education, research and conservation. Berkeley, California: The CalFlora Database [web application]. Available: http://www.calflora.org/. (Accessed 2025).
  2. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2023. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 14. Magnoliophyta: Gentianaceae to Hydroleaceae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiv + 505 pp.
  3. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  4. iNaturalist. 2025. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2025).
  5. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  6. NatureServe. 2025. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  7. NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2024. Version: 1.1.1 (released Oct 01, 2024).
  8. Nee, M.H. 2022. Jepson eFlora: <i>Nicotiana attenuata</i>. Jepson Herbarium, University of California, Berkeley. Accessed September 20, 2022. https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=34644
  9. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2025. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2025).