AnnualsDiscover the right annual plants for your garden.
' Marine ' heliotrope ( Heliotropium arborescens ) . exposure : Proven winner
Heliotrope is an old - fashioned summertime ducky , with colorful cluster of fragrant star - shaped flowers . Also known as cherry Proto-Indo European plant life for the odoriferous cherry red - similar odor , the heliotrope bloom is attractive to hummingbirds , butterflies , and other dirt ball pollinator . “ Heliotrope ” means “ to move with the sun , ” in reference to the flower that follow the light source of the sun throughout the daytime .
The most commonly grown garden species ( Heliotropium arborescens ) is a raw perennial bush in its native South American habit , but is most often spring up as an yearly . Heliotrope plants can be raise in containers , as edging , or mass as a bedding plant . Here ’s how to grow and utilise bloodstone in your yard .
On this page : Basics|Planting|Care|Varieties|Propagation|Design Ideas
On this Sir Frederick Handley Page :
BASICS
Botanical name:
Heliotropiumspp .
Zones:
9 - 11 , ordinarily produce as an anual
Habit:
Compact bushy habit
Height/Spread:
When grown as an annual , plants typically reach 1 to 2 foot tall and wide . In Robert Frost - free climates , plants will stay perennial , reaching 1 to 4 feet tall and encompassing .
Exposure:
Full Sunday . For honorable bloom and vigorous outgrowth , make certain plant have at least 6 hour of verbatim sun . In hotter climates , provide light good afternoon nicety to protect the delicate flowers from becoming scorched .
Bloom time:
Summer to frost .
Flowers:
Clusters of small , star - form flower 4 to 6 inches across occur in shades of violet , lilac , violet - blue , or white . flower have a sweet perfume that is often compare to cherries , grape , vanilla extract , or talcum powder .
Foliage:
stocky mounding works produce 3- to 4 - inch - long ovate leaf . The dingy green foliage has flyspeck hairs , with a rough crease grain and distinct veining .
Is heliotrope deer resistant?
Deer are fight off by the fragrancy of heliotrope flowers , as well as the pugnacious grain of the leaves . However , nearly any plant may be susceptible to deer browsing if other solid food sources are scarce . ( See moredeer - resistant plant life . )
PLANTING HELIOTROPE
Augusta ™ Lavender bloodstone . pic : Proven winner
When to plant:
Heliotrope is extremely sensitive to cooler temperature and frost . ensure all danger of Robert Lee Frost has passed in your part before planting outdoors . In temperatures below 40 degrees F , plants may receive damage or scrawny growth , so it ’s best to wait until temperatures are consistently warm .
Where to plant:
Choose a warm sunny site with plentiful , well - draining land .
How to plant:
Loosen soil in planting domain and lightly amend with compost or other organic issue . verify territory drains well . If plants are mountain - take a hop , gently loosen out the tooth root . Dig a hole slightly big than the root nut and place in the planting trap so the top of the tooth root orb is level with the surrounding soil . satisfy in the hole with soil , tamp down down gently to remove air pouch , and water thoroughly . Water plants regularly until establish .
Soil:
Heliotrope prefers rich , well - drain grime with a pH between 6.5 - 7.5 .
For containers:
Make certain pots have adequate drainage hollow . Use a high quality all - purpose potting ground that drain well .
HELIOTROPE CARE
Temperature and humidity:
Heliotrope thrives in drier climates , with warm days and cooler Nox . Too much heat can result in works stress , while humid conditions can make plant more prone to powdery mold . bring home the bacon good air circulation to serve prevent disease .
Watering:
Keep soil evenly moist but not sloughy , and do n’t allow plants to dry out . Overwatering can run to root rot . Water betimes in the solar day and quash getting foliation tight . industrial plant in containers will need more even water than those in the ground , especially during hot weather condition .
Amendments & fertilizer:
To do its best , heliotrope should be fertilise regularly . For industrial plant in the ground , fertilize monthly . Container - grown plant should be fertilized every two week . Use a fertilizer high in phosphorus to promote more rosiness .
Pruning and deadheading:
After planting , pinch back theme tips to advance more forking and a bushier habit . Deadhead spent flower to promote rebloom .
Pests and diseases:
When planted in the right condition , heliotrope has few pest or disease problems . Pests can includewhiteflies , mealy bug , spider mites , andaphids . disease , which are due primary to overwatering or high-pitched humidity , include rust , powdery mold , or leaf smear .
HELIOTROPE VARIETIES
photograph : Proven Winners
capital of Maine ™ LAVENDER — Buy now from Proven WinnersHeliotropiumhybrid
mound scatter wont
12 to 24 inches tall , 24 to 36 column inch full
center - catching flowers are pale lavender with a yellow eye encircle in bloodless , creating a absorbing effect in the landscape . The vigorous spreading wont is suited for aggregative plantings in beds or along a gradient . employment as a makeweight component in a expectant container , or by itself in a hanging hoop . Tolerant of heat and humidity .
' MARINE’Heliotropium arborescens
Mounding shaggy-coated habit
12 to 18 in tall and wide
Large cluster of dark violet - bluish blossom up to 6 inch across are produce on vigorous plants . Flowers have a strong vanilla extract scent that is more pronounced on lovesome summer evenings . practice in string up baskets , container or border .
pic : Jessica Chau / Flickr
' FRAGRANT DELIGHT’H. arborescens
15 to 24 inches tall , 12 to 24 inches wide of the mark
This heirloom preferent bear loose flat head of graphic purple flowers with a strong vanilla extract fragrance . flower are more intensely scented than many other variety . Mass as a bedding plant or use in containers in combining with other warm time of year annuals .
Photo : Anely Ruzhe / Shutterstock
SCENTROPIA ™ DARK BLUEH . arborescens
good mounding habit
12 to 16 inch improbable , 10 to 14 inches full
Clusters of intensely fragrant blooms occur on well - branching plant . coloring rove from deep puritanic - reddish blue to sapphire patrician , reckon on the age of the flower . The thickset habit is suited for belittled spaces , container , window boxes , for edging borders and pathways .
exposure by : Sylvain Marineau / Millette Photomedia
' WHITE LADY’H. arborescens
Bushy disperse habit
18 to 24 inches marvellous , 12 inches all-encompassing
Prolific bunch of snow white flower with green throats are delightfully fragrant . apply in a container as a filler element in combination with other warm season annuals . Plant in amoon gardenwith other sweet-smelling white plants to enjoy on warm summer evenings .
PROPAGATING HELIOTROPE
Though most often grown from nursery starts , heliotrope can also be acquire from seed or cutting .
From seed:
scratch line seeds indoors 10 to 12 weeks before your last ordinary icing date . Keep grime evenly moist , with temperatures between 70 - 75 degrees F. Allow 28 to 42 twenty-four hour period for germination . waitress until the outside soil temperature has reach 60 degrees F before planting seedlings outside .
From cuttings:
Towards the end of the grow season , take stem cuttings to winter indoors . Cut a 5 - inch segment of a stem just below a leaf guest . murder flowers and lower leaves , duck the bottom end of the stem inrooting hormoneand place in a sterile seed bulge out medium or mix of backbone and perlite . Keep evenly irrigate in a fond surround until found outdoors the following spring .
observe : It is illegal to disseminate any patented or patent of invention pending industrial plant and trade them for pecuniary addition .
HELIOTROPE LANDSCAPING IDEAS
photograph by : Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock
For borders and landscapes : Use spreading miscellany as bedding plants . Upright types can be planted in mixed margin or as pathway edging .
For slopes and hillside : Mass spreading type along a slope or hillside in combination with other annuals for a speedy burst of color all summer long .
For containers : Grow mounding or spread types in containers , hanging field goal , or windowpane boxes , by themselves or in combination with other quick time of year annuals .
There are many slipway to contain heliotrope plants into your landscape painting . Here ’s how :
Companion plants:
Heliotrope pairs well with many annuals as well as some perennials . Plant alongside other plants with similar uprise needs such asAfrican daisy(Osteospermum),Angelonia , black - eyed Susan(Rudbeckia hirta),floss flower(Ageratum),geranium(GeraniumandPelargonium),Lantana , licorice plant ( Helichrysum),annualLobelia , Calibrachoa , stock ( Matthiola ) , orSalvia‘Victoria ’ .
