Mar 12, 2024

The Heliotrope Plant

The heliotroop plant (Heliotropium arborescens) is a flower that’s reminiscent of Victorian era gardens. This pretty plant is not only fragrant but also visually appealing and can add color to your garden throughout the summer. Like most plants, it thrives when given the proper conditions. Sunshine, rich soil and moisture are all necessary for heliotrope to grow well. It is prone to powdery mildew, however, in humid weather and needs good air circulation around the plant to help prevent this disease.

The Allure of Heliotrope Plant: A Fragrant Journey

The flowers are available in many colors ranging from blue to purple and white, and have a delicate vanilla scent. Depending on the cultivar, heliotrope grows up to 48 inches tall, and has deep green, corrugated leaves. This flower is easy to grow and can be planted in many places. It’s a perfect addition to a flower border, container or moon garden. It can even be massed on a slope or hill to bring in some color and fragrance.

Heliotropes are not very aggressive so they will not take over your garden or container unless you let them. They prefer full sun but can tolerate partial shade as long as the soil is rich and not dry. They need regular watering to keep the soil moist but not soggy, with a pH between 6.6 and 7.3. Water them in the morning to avoid getting the foliage wet, and don’t overwater, as this can cause root rot. If growing them in containers, they will need to be watered more often than those in the ground due to their faster rate of absorbing water.