Re: Heliotrope

-----Original Message-----
From: Joan Head <jhead@headfamily.freeserve.co.uk>
To: medit-plants@ucdavis.edu <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Date: 30 September 2002 01:35
Subject: Re: Heliotrope


On 30 Sep 2002 at 9:31, Anthony Lyman-Dixon wrote:

>
> What sort? The classical European Heliotrope has been almost completely
> taken over by a horrid little variety of Heliotropium peruvianum (syn
> arborescens) which is commonly found lurking in the bottom of municipal
> bedding schemes. This creepy variety  only seems to be available in
> irridescent blue However not all is lost, We sell
> the old fashioned aromatic variety  which gets about four feet tall and,
> I am told, really does smell of cherries, though my sense of smell has
> declined too far into senility to recognise it.  This old Victorian form
> comes in an interesting  variety of pastel shades (although cynics would
> described it as "washed out") the only draw back is that it does require
> a cool conservatory in Winter
>
> Anthony

Thanks Anthony.  I'm interested in obtaining the more unusual cvs,
having already five named varieties, including white or nearly white-
flowered 'White Queen'.  I wouldn't describe any of them as "washed
out", or indeed "irridescent", as they range from purple to lavender blue,
all with strong green foliage.

According to UK Plant Finder there are two species H. amplexicaule
and H. arborescens and up to twelve named varieties. However, Ian
Cooke (Tender Perennials) reports the genus as containing over 250
species with the garden-worthy crosses currently in cultivation derived
from H. arborescens and H. corymbosum.  Apparently the Royal
Horticultural Society ran a trial in 1860 with a long list of cvs.  Most of
these appear to be lost to cultivation here.

By the way, is an interest in heliotropes just a Brit thing?  They make
wonderful, vanilla-scented beds over the summer/autumn period and in
this warm spell at the moment (my area is forecast to enjoy 23C today,
the last day of September, something like 73F) they are looking
splendid.  But then so are all the other half hardies including the species
lavenders which have never looked better.

I overwinter my heliotropes successfully (clay pots seem best) in the
cool conservatory, along with too many other desiderata, and cuttings
taken in the early spring have time to make good plants by the end of
May, which is when danger of frost is past (usually) in this area.

To return to the original query, I seem unable to find a useful
listing/classification on the net and this is where I thought other list
members, probably more experienced surfers, might be able to help.
Grateful thanks in advance.  I guess I'll have to bury my head in old
gardening books and catalogues as well but that can wait till winter.

Joan

I'm afraid I can't help with web references.
I'm surprised though that this subject isn't getting more interest. They've
become one of the mainstays of irrigated gardens here in Capetown. Being
frostfree they'll bloom for us all year round & when you combine them with
the pentas varieties, which also go year round, they give good big banks of
colour.
They're really the lead lines in my nursery & in this climate cuttings
strike quite easily right through the year.
I think a problem naming cultivars is that some of these are given different
names in different parts of the world. Our pentas varieties are totally
uniquely named for instance.
We have had 2 species available here. H. amplexicaule is flat growing &
quite a vigorous spreading ground cover. Doesn't make a great show really
though & fell out of favour. Also its become a major weed in some of the
summer rainfall zones - Pretoria for instance. What we know as H.
arborescens here is also quite flat & spreading & doesn't reach the height
the literature  suggests. Well scented with a pale lilac washed flower & the
most drought hardy of the lot. Useful as a ground cover & to fill in large
gaps. Theres also a pure white form thats appeared recently called 'white
whizz'.
Then theres a group of more upright, bushy cultivars. Theres ' Florence
Nightingale ' which is lavender flowered with no real scent & another one
which is similar but of doubtful origin, confusingly labelled purple, which
its not as it has a slightly deeper shade of lavender flower but is a far
more robust grower. The 'Florence Nightingale' is probably the most tender
of the lot. Then there are two true purple varieties. 'Royal Marine' is not
notably scented  but the other, 'Fragrant Delight' is ,as the name suggests,
well scented with a deep rich purple flower & a deep green colouration in
the leaves which almost runs into a purple wash. Its less vigorous than the
'Royal Marine' but probably the most striking of the lot.
I find they all have a tendency to get leggy quickly & benefit from a good
tip back - which they constantly get from me when I'm taking cutting
material - & are one of the few things which flower equally well in sun or
shade.
Hope this is of help to you.

Regards

Glenn Breayley. Ragnarok & Valhalla Research.
POBox 26158, Hout Bay, 7872, Capetown, South Africa
Ph/Fax SA 021 7904253 E-mail valhalla@iafrica.com
Wholesale nurseryman & Tillandsia specialist wholesale & retail grower.
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