Organic 'Marine' Heliotrope

Organic 'Marine' Heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens) from the seed company Gaia, a heritage annual with a vanilla fragrance and irresistible to pollinators

Heliotrope 'Marine' produces large clusters of deep purple flowers , intensely fragrant with a sweet vanilla note , which bloom all summer long. Highly prized for its continuous flowering and romantic appeal, it tolerates heat well and is perfectly suited to container gardening , pots, or borders. Its nectar-rich flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators, while its compact habit makes it a refined ornamental plant that is easy to incorporate into patio gardens or summer flowerbeds.

Companion plants : Verbena, Lobelia, Sage, Alyssum, Petunia, Geranium, Nicotiana, Coleus
Negative plants : Plants with high water requirements (risk of root asphyxiation)

Spread/Habit : Compact and floriferous clump
Plant height : 15 to 30 cm
Quantity per packet : 100 seeds
Certification : Environmentally friendly product
Special features : Vanilla fragrance, deep purple flowers, summer blooming, excellent for containers, strongly attracts pollinators

Leaf color : Dark green
Texture/flavor : Fragrant flowers, soft but inedible foliage
Cold tolerance : Not hardy

Farming method

Stratify the seeds for 2 to 4 weeks before sowing. Sow indoors 10 to 12 weeks before the last frost. The seeds should not be covered (0″ deep) as germination requires light. Maintain a temperature of 15–21°C (optimum 18°C ). Germination can be slow: 28 to 42 days . Transplant outdoors after all risk of frost has passed, in partial sun/partial shade (level 2), with regular watering (level 3). Space plants 30–45 cm apart, with 45–60 cm between rows.

Harvesting and preservation

The flowers can be cut fresh to perfume bouquets. Regularly cutting back faded flower heads prolongs and intensifies flowering.

Usage ideas

• In pots or containers to enjoy its vanilla fragrance up close
• In romantic flowerbeds with verbenas and petunias
• In terrace gardens or semi-shaded balconies
• As fragrant borders along the walkways
• To attract butterflies and bees to flower gardens

Heliotrope 'Marine' brings charm, fragrance, and deep color to the garden. An irresistible heritage annual for lovers of aromatic flowers and elegant gardens.