Burley is a slightly smaller plant than the flue-cured Virginia type, but with similarly broad leaves. Once picked, its leaves are dried naturally – or ‘air-cured' – without the use of extra heat. This gives the leaves a light brown to mahogany appearance and very low sugar content. Burley tobaccos are somewhat cigar-like in taste and appearance, lending themselves to the production of flavoured, blended cigarettes commonly referred to as "American". Burley tobacco can be grown in limestone soils and requires only light fertiliser.

白肋烟比烤干型弗吉尼亚型烟稍微要小一些，但有相似宽大的叶子。一旦采摘，它的叶子将被自然晾干———或置空晾干———不需用其它外热。这样过后叶子变为浅褐色至红褐色，含糖量低。白肋烟在在口味和外表上有点像雪茄，使得它们可以作香料生产、香烟调味品，被称之为美国人的烟。 白肋烟在碱性土壤中种植，对肥料要求不高。