Heliotrope

Even without its fabulous scent, heliotrope would be widely grown in the garden. It has a distinctive scent -- some say it smells like cherry pie; others say a grape Popsicle. Still others say it's reminiscent of vanilla. Regardless, it is undeniably one of the most intriguingly scented plants in the garden. As a bonus, this tropical plant, grown as an annual, bears big clusters of rich purple, blue, or white flowers.

Heliotrope thrives in a spot with full sun and moist, well-drained soil. It's a great container plant -- try it in a window box or next to a doorway where you can enjoy it frequently. For the strongest scent, group several plants together where they can get afternoon sun. That warming sun releases the fragrance.

Light:

Sun

Zones:

11

Plant Type:

Annual

Plant Height:

1-3 feet tall

Plant Width:

1-2 feet wide

Landscape Uses:

Containers,Beds & Borders

Special Features:

Flowers,Fragrant,Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

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'Fragrant Delight' heliotrope

Heliotropium 'Fragrant Delight' bears soft purple, highly fragrant flowers on 3-foot-tall plants.
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Garden Plans

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Lush Foliage Garden Plan
Pocket Garden Plan
Easy-Care Formal Garden Plan
Garden Plan for Partial Shade
Colorful Vegetable Garden Plan
Flowery Deck Garden Plan

Plant It With

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Angelonia

Grow purple heliotrope with spiky white angelonia for a fun contrast. Or try it the other way, with white heliotrope and purple angelonia.

Duranta

Try heliotrope with beautiful variegated duranta for a stunning container combo that does great in beds and borders.

Licorice plant

Heliotrope's purple flowers show off beautifully with a silvery skirt of soft, touchable licorice vine.

Propagation

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Seed
Stem Cuttings