Heliotropium
arborescens is a fragrant tender shrub. Thomas Jefferson introduced the plant
while he was an ambassador to France. He noted the fragrance and
treated it as an annual. Heliotrope is particularly fragrant and well
worth the trouble to use it as an annual where the climate is not accommodating.
Heliotropium arborescens can be planted in full sun near the coast but
prefers some protection inland. Heliotrope will do quite well in the
banana belt sections of the inland valleys. Heliotropium arborescens
will look best with trimmed several leaf nodes below the flowers.
Regular trimming helps the aesthetics a lot and doesn't take long. Plants are hardy into
the high 20's. Regular water and decent drainage are a requirement.
High resolution images of
Heliotropium arborescens are available.
