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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| 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
H1CBotanical details
- Family
- Boraginaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- 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, grow in peat-free compost 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
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.