Photo of Heliotropium arborescens 'Album' flower by Annie's Annuals & Perennials

Photo by Annie's Annuals & Perennials

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Heliotropium arborescens 'Album'

Also Known As

  • Heliotropium arborescens 'Alba'
  • Heliotropium arborescens 'White'
  • White Heliotrope

Plant type

perennial, annual / biennial

size

  • H: 2'
  • W: 2'

planting zones

  • 10a-11

More Options

Heliotropium arborescens 'Album' plant details

Heliotropium arborescens 'Album' is a broadleaf evergreen annual / biennial or perennial with green foliage. In fall, spring and summer lavender and white flowers emerge. Features fuzzy texture. Attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and regular water. Drought tolerant once established. Does well in well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something seaside / salt tolerant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Heliotropium arborescens 'Album'

Plant type: annual / biennial or perennial
Plant family: boraginaceae
Foliage: evergreen green
Mature size: 2 FT wide, 2 FT tall
Flowers: lavender and white blooms in fall, spring and summer
Uses: container plant, cutting garden, easy-to-grow, floriferous, fragrant, heirloom, long-blooming, vanilla-scented

GROWING CONDITIONS for Heliotropium arborescens 'Album'

USDA Zones: 10a - 11
Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
Watering frequency: regular
Resistant to: deer, seaside / salt
Soil needs: well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

An intensely sweet almond fragrance emanates from the white trusses of bloom, scenting the air. It may be 'White Lady' described in Gause & Bissell's 1892 catalog as "free branching and of the purest white". It blooms all summer until the first frost. Poisonous.
Reminiscent of mom's homemade apple pie, this "White Flowered Heliotrope" is scented like fresh vanilla with year-round blooms.
A small, compact, evergreen shrub. Dark green, hairy, tightly ribbed alternate leaves are held on slender, woody stems. Throughout the warmer months heads of mauve tinged, white flowers, strongly scented with the aroma of vanilla ice cream. Prune lightly after each flush of flowers. Sensitive to frost.

By: Zephs

The most fragrant Heliotrope! Aren’t we lucky that it acts as a perennial in temperate USDA zones 9 & 10. Strangely underused in gardens, it makes a fine bushy (to 3’x3’) groundcovering & trailing perennial for part sun to bright shade. Just pinch it back to maintain your desired form & deadhead. Blooms late Spring thru Fall with a continuous display of its lovely 3-4” curled clusters of white flowers so powerfully sweet vanilla scented. Much better than any store bought aromatherapy! Attractive emerald green oval shaped foliage. Side dress with compost in Spring & Summer for a boatload of blooms. Very nice trailing out of large containers. Tolerates salt spray!

Gardening facts about Heliotropium arborescens 'Album' plant

How to Grow Heliotropium arborescens 'Album'

  • Sun Exposure

    • sun - mostly shade
  • Water Needs

    • regular - drought tolerant
  • Soil Needs

    • well-drained
  • Special Situation

    • seaside / salt tolerant

Features

  • Foliage Color

    • green
  • Flower Color

    • white
    • lavender
  • Wildlife

    • bees
    • butterflies
    • hummingbirds
    • deer resistant
  • Flower Season

    • spring
    • summer
    • fall
  • Foliage Season

    • evergreen
  • Texture

    • fuzzy
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