Heliotropium arborescens, a plant that was in the gardens of our grandmothers known as “the cherry pie flower” or “bradarka” was once a very popular flower. The Peru native plants have been a part of every garden in Europe, as a perennial or annual, depending on the hardiness zone. This delicate plant with small flowers was once loved for its smell and color but has now become more of an exotic plant in most of the gardens.

The heliotrope got its name from the flower heads which turn to the sun (helios-sun / trepein-to turn). Flowers depend on the varieties and can be from white to purple, but lately, the most popular variety is “Marine” which varieties from purple to dark blue in the late autumn. This variety is 45cm (17in) tall, but some varieties can be up to 100cm tall. The flowers smell of vanilla, although I can’t say if this is true, since I haven’t noticed any flower scent. The flowers are present from June to September and removing the dead flowers will help prolong the plant flowering.

This bushy plant has big, dark green leaves, which are rugged and located on hard green branches. The bugs love to eat the leaves and often leaves are full of holes. The bush likes all soils but prefers well-drained soil. Still, the plant likes lots of water and should be watered regularly, especially during the summer, since it loves the positions with full sun. If the weather is cold and moist it can be sensitive to Pythium blight.

The heliotrope is also sensitive to frost and can survive as perennial only in zone 10 and 11, temperatures under -4°C (25°F). The lower temperatures will kill this tender plant and that’s the reason why in other zones it is mostly grown in planters and pots. It can be stored at a controlled temperature during winter, but if the plant doesn’t get moved in time it can lose all its leaves and die anyway.

Like caterpillars, this plant is also loved by bees and butterflies and can be used in a bee-attracting garden. But, it is poisonous for dogs, cats, and deers so it requires a careful position choosing if animals and pets are present in the garden.

Heliotrope will thrive if left unattended during summers with shower periods, but will easily dry if left in a drought period. The flowers dry very quickly and can be used as dry flowers.

Heliotrope can be a great green decoration with delicate purple flowers in any garden and it will certainly be one of the modest, but beautiful plants.