Heliotropium arborescens
Common Name – Heliotropium arborescens (Heliotrope, Cherry pie)
Plant Identification
Genus: Heliotropium
Family: Boraginaceae
Species: H. arborescens
Plant type: Broadleaf evergreen
Variety:
Note: Heliotropium arborescens is a highly fragrant perennial plant, originally from Peru. It is especially notable for its intense vanilla-like fragrance. Common names include cherry pie and “common heliotrope”.
During the Victorian era in England this plant gained great recognition, often appearing in gardens and the herbaceous borders of parks. Its popularity may have become less in more modern times, but hardy and colourful varieties, such as ‘Princess Marina’, have ensured that this plant still regularly appears in garden centres. Other popular varieties include, ‘Mary Fox’, the highly scented ‘White Lady’ or ‘White Queen’ and a taller variety ‘Florence Nightingale’.
Plant Images
Plant Descriptions
Fruit / flower:
Colour:
Flowering time:
Flower size: Features sweetly fragrant, tiny violet flowers in large showy clusters which bloom summer to fall.
Fragrance: Vanilla frangrance.
Height: 1 – 1.5 feet tall
Width: spread 1 – 1.5 feet
Foliage description: Rough, oval, dark green leaves (to 3” long) which are prominently veined.
Foliage colour: Dark green
Plant Requirements
Light preference:Full sun to partial shade
Watering: Medium
Temperature:
Soil requirements: Moist but well-drained soil.
Fertilisation:
Pruning:
Other Information
Insects: No serious insect problems. Watch for whiteflies, spider mites, aphids and mealybugs
Diseases: None
Propogation: From seed.
Other notes: Ideal as bedding plants or edging plants. In containers as rounded shrubs or trained as a standard. Also work well in hanging baskets and window boxes.
