Jessie Keith
Family
Boraginaceae
Botanical Name
Heliotropium arborescens
Plant Common Name
Blue Heliotrope
General Description
What a classic old-fashioned bedding plant. Garden heliotrope is a tender fragrant summer garden flower that originates from Peru. It is commonly grown as a bedding annual but is a shrubby evergreen perennial where hardy. In the Victorian era is was especially popular in the garden and was commonly referred to as "cherry pie" due to its intoxicatingly sweet fragrance.
This bushy plant has attractive deep green leaves with deep venation. When conditions are favorable, it produces large, rounded clusters of many tiny tubular violet-blue or purple flowers. These have a sweet, fruity fragrance. The sweet blooms are irresistible to butterflies and bees and are followed by brown fruits. Regular deadheading will keep the plants looking fresh while encouraging further flowering.
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, Partial Sun
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Height
12"-48" / 30.5cm - 121.9cm
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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
Purple, Blue Violet
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
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
