Japanese name: ヘリオトロープ Scientific name:Heliotropium arborescens
[Overview]
A perennial or subshrub 30–50 cm tall.
It is hairy all over.
The stems branch and become woody at the base.
The leaves are simple and alternate, ovate to elliptic, 4–8 cm long, with wrinkles along the veins.
They have leaf stalks.
The leaf bases clasp the stem.
Cymes at the stem tips bear dense flowers.
The flowers are bluish purple to purple; the corolla is 5-lobed and has a vanilla-like fragrance.
There are also white-flowered plants.
The fruit is a schizocarp.
[Uses]
The flowers are used as a perfume ingredient, and the leaves are applied externally for insect bites.
[Cultivation]
Propagate by stem cuttings.
It can overwinter outdoors in regions without frost.
It prefers sunny, well-drained soil that retains moisture and is well aerated, and dislikes acidic soil.
Water thoroughly when the soil surface dries.
Apply basal fertilizer, and also slow-release fertilizer in spring and autumn.
Remove spent flowers promptly.
Pests include cottony cushion scale and aphids.
