Velvetleaf Soldierbush
Heliotropium arboreum
- Native to:
- Aldabra, Andaman Is., Australia, Borneo, Caroline Is., Chagos Archipelago, Christmas I., Cocos (Keeling) Is., Cook Is., Fiji, Gilbert Is., Guam, Hainan, Japan, Jawa, Kenya, Laccadive Is., Lesser Sunda Is., Line Is., Madagascar, Malaya, Maldives, Maluku, Marcus I., Marianas, Marshall Is., Mauritius, Mozambique, Mozambique Channel Is., Nansei-shoto, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Nicobar Is., Niue, Ogasawara-shoto, Palau, Philippines, Phoenix Is., Pitcairn Is., Réunion, Rodrigues, Samoa, Seychelles, Society Is., Solomon Is., Somalia, South China Sea, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tokelau-Manihiki, Tonga, Tuamotu, Tubuai Is., Tuvalu, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, United States, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wake I., Wallis-Futuna Is.
Mark Marathon
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Boraginaceae
- Genus:
- Heliotropium
- Species:
- Heliotropium arboreum
- USDA Symbol:
- HEFO11
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 200 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- white, purple, lavender
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- butterflies, bees
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, alkaline, well-drained soil
- pH:
- 7.5 - 8.5 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to arid, coastal regions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–28 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily in warm conditions with consistent moisture. Light may enhance germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Cuttings must have several shoot buds and be cut to 15 cm lengths. All mature leaves are removed except the terminal leaves. Leaf buds in the axils of leaves are not removed. Cuttings are directly stuck into containers filled with moistened medium. No rooting hormones are used.
Establishment: Collect softwood stem cuttings when the leaves have expanded and the stems are firm. During collection, stem cuttings need to be kept moist and cool, and must be treated immediately after collection. Chen is a common coastal strand plant found throughout Polynesia, Melanesia, Micronesia, tropical Australia and the Indian ocean region. It is introduced in Hawaii.
Source: npn.rngr.net