Guide to growing garden plants - Heliotropium Heliotrope
Although Heliotropium are half hardy perennials they are usually grown as half hardy annuals in the garden.
The flowering time of the Heliotropium genus depends on the species and can be from the latter part of spring until the end of autumn.
They carry trumpet shaped flowers of blue, white or purple that are cherished in the garden for their aroma.
Some common names for Heliotropium include heliotrope and Cherry Pie.
How to grow Heliotrope (Heliotropium)
It is best to grow Heliotrope indoors first and then transplant later. They should be started about 3 months before they are due to be transplanted a few weeks after the last frost of spring. They take from a couple of days to six weeks to germinate at a temperature of 21 to 24 degrees Centigrade. Once established they can either be kept indoors in an area that receives plenty of sunlight or transplanted outdoors into containers or the border at a spacing of about 40 to 50cm. They prefer to grow in a sunny area of the garden with good drainage, preferably in an east facing part of the garden, so that it gets shade in the afternoon. The soil should be rich.
Caring for Heliotrope
Once growing it is important to keep the soil that Heliotropium is growing in moist and to provide a regular monthly feed. Additionally young Heliotropium plants should have their tips nipped to encourage bushy growth. Once the flowering has finished, deadhead the flower to encourage further blooming. If you require more heliotropes then cuttings from either the root or stem can be taken in the autumn.