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Heliotropium 'Butterfly Kisses'
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

heliotrope 'Butterfly Kisses'

A compact cultivar, usually grown as annual bedding, with scented, light purple flowers

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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Purple Green
Autumn Green
Winter Green
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

South–facing or East–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H1C
Botanical details
Family
Boraginaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Potentially harmful
Pets: Harmful if eaten repeatedly. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus

Heliotropium can be annuals, perennials, sub-shrubs or shrubs, with simple leaves and large clusters of small, scented flowers in summer

Name status

Unresolved

How to grow

Cultivation

Under glass may be grown in a loamless or loam-based compost (JI No3) in full light but with some protection from hot sun. Outdoors grow in any moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Water moderately in the growing season and apply a balanced fertiliser once a month. In the winter keep the rootball just moist

Propagation

Propagate named cultivars by taking softwood cuttings or semi-ripe cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Sub-tropical
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Conservatory and greenhouse
Pruning

Tip-prune shoots on young plants in early spring to promote bushy growth. Older leggy plants can gave their stems shortened by half in spring

Pests

Glasshouse whitefly may be a problem if grown under glass

Diseases

Generally problem free

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