Other Names:  Heliotropium sp. Ecuador

Description:

A large, upright shrub with attractive, bright green, ridged and pointed foliage; features pure white flowers in coiled clusters, and very showy white berries, that often appear together year-round; an exceptional screen, or garden accent plant

Ornamental Features

Ecuadorian Heliotrope has masses of beautiful clusters of lightly-scented white flowers at the ends of the branches from late winter to late fall, which are most effective when planted in groupings. It features an abundance of magnificent white berries from mid to early winter. It has light green foliage with hints of chartreuse. The textured pointy leaves remain light green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Ecuadorian Heliotrope is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep. Trim off the flower heads after they fade and die to encourage more blooms late into the season. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Ecuadorian Heliotrope is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Ecuadorian Heliotrope will grow to be about 7 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. It has a low canopy, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years. This is a self-pollinating variety, so it doesn't require a second plant nearby to set fruit.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid, and parts of it are known to be toxic to humans and animals, so care should be exercised in planting it around children and pets.; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Ecuadorian Heliotrope makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.