Salt Heliotrope
Heliotropium curassavicum
- Native to:
- Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Central American Pacific Is., Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, French Guiana, Galápagos, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, Leeward Is., Mexican Pacific Is., Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Southwest Caribbean, Suriname, Turks-Caicos Is., United States, Uruguay, Venezuelan Antilles, Virgin Islands, Windward Is.
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Boraginaceae
- Genus:
- Heliotropium
- Species:
- Heliotropium curassavicum
- USDA Symbol:
- HECU3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual | Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Subshrub
- Height:
- 50 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- white, lavender
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Ceratina arizonensis Moths:Conchylodes Guenée, Salt Marsh Moth (Estigmene acrea) Butterflies:Checkered White (Pontia protodice), Common Checkered-skipper (Burnsius communis), Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), Gray Buckeye (Junonia grisea), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Small White (Pieris rapae), Western Pygmy Blue (Brephidium exilis), Woodland Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanoides)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- butterflies, bees
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- saline, sandy to clayey soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.5 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- commonly found in coastal and saline environments
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily without pretreatment in warm conditions.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI