Heliotropium arborescens
Heliotrope
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Heliotropium genus in the family Boraginaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Boraginaceae
- Genus
- Heliotropium
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Woodiness
- woody
- Height
- 1 m
- Spread
- 1 m
- Fertility
- Bees, Lepidoptera
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees, Lepidoptera
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The seeds are poisonous[10].
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The plant is used to make a febrifugal tea[3]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the whole fresh plant[8]. It is used in the treatment of clergyman's sore throat and uterine displacement[8].
- Product or use
- Febrifuge
- Product or use
- Homeopathy
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
An essential oil obtained from the flowers is used in perfumery[9][2]. The plant is sometimes used as a low hedge, though it is not hardy enough in Britain for this purpose[5].
- Product or use
- Essential
Environment
- Range
- S. America - Peru.
- Habitat
- Not known
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 10+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 25 days at 20°c. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 7cm with a heel, July/August in a frame[11]. High percentage. Because the plant is not hardy the cuttings would have to be grown in a greenhouse for the winter before planting them out in the spring. Cuttings of young shoots in the spring[1]. Because the plant is not hardy the cuttings would have to be grown in a greenhouse for the winter before planting them out in the spring.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a rich well-drained soil in full sun[3]. Plants grow best in a sandy loam[6]. Severely damaged by low temperatures[1], this plant is not hardy in Britain but it can be grown as a half-hardy annual, flowering in its first year from seed[1][3]. If grown as a shrub, it requires a minimum winter temperature of 5 - 7°c[3]. Plants stop growing when night-time temperatures fall below 5°c and are likely to be killed once the temperature falls below -2°c[6]. The plant turns its leaves and flowers so that it is always facing the sun during the day[8]. The flowers have a most unusual perfume, somewhat like cherries baked in a pie[5]. It is a good butterfly plant[4][7]. A parent of the cultivated ornamental garden heliotropes[1], there are many named varieties[3].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden.
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5
Carter D. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe. Pan 1982-00-00 ISBN 0-330-26642-x
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.
Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00