Heliotropium

( hee - lee - oh - TROH - pee - um )

At-A-Glance Information

The genus Heliotropium, commonly called Heliotrope, Cherry Pie Plant or Turnsol, is filled with species of perennial herbaceous plants that are often grown as annuals. They can take full sun in cooler climates, but need some sun protection elsewhere and require regular waterings for best performance. Native to , these are somewhat old-fashioned flowers that have a sweet fragrance and reach up to 4 feet tall and 2 feet wide. The blooms are small but form in clusters and come in dark violet, blue, purple, and white. Leaves are veined and blushed with dark purple. ​Take care when planting this flower in your garden, as all parts of it are poisonous to humans and pets if ingested.

Heliotropium Species and Varietals

The genus Heliotropium is a member of the plant family Boraginaceae and includes 325 species. The genus name is derived from the Greek words for sun (helios) and to turn (trepein), a reference to a classical Greek myth. In this tale, the sun god Helios rejects a water nymph, who turns into a flower that faces up towards her love, the sun god. Heliotropes can be grown in any zone as annuals. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Heliotropium amplexicaule (Clasping Heliotrope, Blue Heliotrope, Summer Heliotrope)
This species is native to Argentina, and forms a clump of wavy-edged green leaves. Small purple flowers bloom atop stems in large inflorescences. 

Heliotropium angiospermum (Scorpion's Tail, Scorpion-Tail)
This species is native to Florida, Texas and Mexico, and is considered an annual or short-lived perennial. It attracts butterflies, and also provides food for birds and bees. Flowering stems end in terminal scorpioid inflorescences. 
Heliotropium arborescens (Common Heliotrope, Garden Heliotrope, Cherry Pie Plant)
This species considered an invasive species in some regions. Check with your local authority before planting. Plants reach about 4 feet tall and just as broad, and forms a bushy evergreen short-lived shrub. Flowers form in clusters of bright purple, and have a vanilla-like fragrance. 
'Black Beauty'
Deep purple flowers.
'Iowa'
With deep purple blooms.
'Marine'
Deep purple blossoms.
'White Lady'
Dwarf variety, under a foot tall.
'Princess Marina'
Compact type, under a foot tall.

Heliotropium arboreum (Velvetleaf Soldierbush, Tree Heliotrope, Veloutier, Octopus Bush)
This species forms a shrub or small tree that reaches 12 feet tall with a spread of about 16 feet. Leaves are silvery and silky-textured, and flowers are tiny and white. Bark is light brown to gray and is corrugated with age. 

Heliotropium crispum
This annual or perennial plant has greyish leaves and is native to western Africa, Egypt, Sudan, southwestern Asia, and Pakistan. It was first described by Rene Louiche Desfontaines. These plants produce white flowers in terminal heads. 

Heliotropium curassavicum (Salt Heliotrope, Monkey Tail, Chinese Parsley, Cola de Mico)
This species is native to the Americas, and is an introduced and sometimes invasive species in many other places around the world. These plants thrive in salty soils, and are often found on disturbed coastal sites. They are perennials, and creep along the ground, topping out at a foot and a half tall. Stems and foliage are fleshy, and hold terminal clusters of small white flowers. 

Heliotropium europaeum (European Heliotrope, European Turnsole)
This species is native to Europe, Africa, and Asia but has naturalized in many parts of the world. It grows commonly as a roadside weed, and produces a taproot and white flowers. Foliage is green-grey.

Heliotropium indicum (Indian Heliotrope, Indian Turnsole)
This species is an annual plant that is a common weed in its native range in Asia. It is commonly used in traditional medicine. Leaves are velvety and broad, and flowers are white. 

Caring for Heliotropium

Plant Heliotropes in a space in the landscape that receives full sun. Ideally, they should be getting at least 6 full hours of direct sun each day for best performance and flowering. In warmer climates, they do appreciate some afternoon shade when temperatures are the hottest. A location that gets morning sun and light afternoon shade is perfect. They prefer soil to be well-draining, fertile, and have a pH of between 6.6 and 7.8. They do not do well in heavy clay soils. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Water newly planted Cherry Pie regularly to help it develop a strong root system. At maturity, Heliotropes also prefer to have their feet in moist, but not waterlogged, soil. Do not allow the soil to dry out between waterings, and apply irrigation whenever the top inch of soil is dry to the touch. These plants can be grown in containers, provided their substrate is well-draining and they receive enough moisture.

Install a thick (1-2 inch) layer of organic mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain soil temperatures, and increase soil moisture retention. Ensure that mulch stays a few inches away from stems and foliage to discourage fungal issues. Fertilize yearly in early springtime with a application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are heavy feeders, and a second application of compost around the planting area is recommended in early fall to naturally raise the soil's nutrient load. Deadhead spent flower inflorescences as they fade to improve the appearance of plants and promote rebloom. New plantings can be pinched back to encourage a bushier habit to form.

Propagation

Heliotropium, or Cherry Pie Plant, can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Heliotrope, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Heliotropium by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) peat moss and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
  2. In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots. 
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new flower.

Propagating Heliotropium by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) peat moss and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows. 
  2. Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on Heliotropium plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
  3. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-10 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Heliotropium flower inflorescences fade and are replaced by seed heads.
Heliotropium seeds.

Problems and Pests

Heliotropium plants are typically free from pest and disease issues in the landscape, though they can suffer from time to time with the following:
  • Aphids
  • Spider Mites
  • Mealybugs
  • Whiteflies
For more information on these pests and diseases, including how to treat and manage them:
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Gallery

Heliotropium is featured here in a mixed bed in front of a rosebush.
These flowers will bring pollinators into the garden.
Many gardeners choose to mass Heliotropium plants together for a striking effect.

Videos

Learn about these classic garden ornamentals.
Tips for successfully growing Heliotropes.
Planting Heliotrope.
Experimenting with Heliotrope.

Resources

Heliotrope Care: Tips for Growing a Heliotrope Plant
How to Grow and Care for Heliotropes
How to Plant and Grow Heliotrope
A Guide to Growing Heliotrope
Wikipedia: Heliotropium
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 357, Heliotropium arborescens
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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