James Burghardt
Family
Boraginaceae
Botanical Name
Heliotropium arborescens 'Atlantis'
Plant Common Name
Blue Heliotrope
General Description
This compact bedding plant yields large clusters of tiny violet-blue flowers all summer. The vigorous ‘Atlantis’ blooms best where summers are cool and has a pleasant fragrance. Garden heliotrope is a tender garden flower that originates from Peru. It is commonly grown as a bedding annual but is a shrubby evergreen perennial where hardy.
The bushy plants are covered with attractive deep green leaves. When conditions are favorable it produces big rounded clusters of many tiny tubular violet-blue or purple flowers. These have a sweet fragrance. In fact, a very old common name for this plant is "cherry pie" due to its sweet fruity smelling flowers which are irresistible to butterflies and bees.
Heliotrope prefers full to partial sun and evenly moist, but well-drained, fertile soil. Regular deadheading will keep flowers coming in profusion as will regular fertilizer. Plant this favorite bedding plant anywhere where cool bright color is desired.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
10 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
9 - 13
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Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 15, 16, 17, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Tender Perennial
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun
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Height
12"-16" / 30.5cm - 40.6cm
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Width
12"-18" / 30.5cm - 45.7cm
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Bloom Time
Indeterminate
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Native To
South America
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Blue Violet
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Purple, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Purple, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Purple, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Dark Green
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
Yes
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Coarse
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
No
