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



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