GROWING AND SAVING THE SEED OF HELIOTROPE

HISTORY

Native to the mountainous tropical regions of Peru. This once-popular cottage garden flower fell out of favor and is slowly coming back into the landscape as a sweetly scented pop of purple color.

USES

• Ornamental.
• Beds, borders, containers, window boxes, cottage garden, fragrant/sensory gardens.
• NOTE: All parts of the plant are poisonous.

• Seeds germinate in 28-42 days.
• Start indoors 10-12 weeks before last frost date, then transplant out after all danger of frost has passed and soil has reliably warmed to 60 F.
• Ideal germination temperature is 70-75 F.

• Plants grow best in full sun to part shade, especially when they are protected from the hot afternoon sun.
• Plants require rich, loamy, well-drained soil and consistent moisture, as they are not drought tolerant.
• Space plants 12 inches apart.
• Keep flowers deadheaded.

PESTS/SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

• When grown indoors, heliotrope can have issues with spider mites, which can be treated with insecticidal soap.
• If grown in excessively hot, humid conditions, heliotrope may suffer from fungal disease.
• Where winters are mild, therefore, it should be grown as a winter flower.
• NOTE: They cannot tolerate frost.

• Most gardeners will root cuttings and grow over winter to get a jump start on spring. You can save seeds.
• Allow the flowerhead containing the seeds to mature completely and dry on the plant, then clip it off and place it in a container.
• Working over the top of another clean, opened container, rub the flowerheads between the palms, breaking them apart.
• The seeds can be separated from the chaff by first screening and then winnowing.
• Store in a cool, dry, dark place over winter.