About Heliotrope

Heliotrope, or Heliotropium convolvulaceum, is a popular garden flower that gets its name from the Greek "helios" for sun and "tropein" for turn, due to the plant's habit of turning toward the sun as the day progresses.

History

Commonly known as turnsole, heliotrope is one of the most ancient flowers known. Originally discovered in the Peruvian Andes, heliotrope was first introduced to the royal gardens of Paris in 1757 and has been used for bedding plants, cut flowers and perfume ever since.

Types

There are over 220 species of heliotrope known. Most are small, herb-like or shrub-like plants with oblong or oval leaves. The most common garden variety is "Cherry Pie," which ranges in colors of blue, purple and white. The dark purple variety "Marine" is perhaps the most fragrant and easily found.
Outside the garden, many heliotrope varieties grow wild. Some, such as the heliotropium curassavicum, which is native to California, are quite invasive in their natural habitats.

Geography

Heliotropes are found throughout the world in warm, temperate climates. Of the species introduced to the United States, most grow along the Atlantic seaboard and throughout the Southern states. Other species thrive in the Western states, and there are 14 species of heliotrope in Texas alone. The common heliotrope of English hothouses is H. peruvianum, which migrated from a gift of seeds from the royal gardens in Paris. In Russian gardens you will find H. suaveolens, which has highly fragrant white flowers.

Size

While the original heliotrope species of Peru grow to a height of 4, 6 or even 10 feet, the more common garden varieties in the United States grow to a height of 18 to 36 inches with a spread of 1 to 3 feet. Since the plant naturally grows "leggy," it is a common practice to pinch new growth back in spring, giving the heliotrope plant a shorter, more compact bush form that it would have if left unchecked.

Warning

While the common garden varieties of heliotrope are not noxious (and are even used in perfume), some wildflower species such as Heliotropium indicum and the invasive Heliotropium amlexicaule are considered poisonous to grazing stock. Another variety, Heliotropium arborescens, will cause gastric distress in both humans and animals.