| Garden Heliotrope | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | (unplaced) |
| Family: | Boraginaceae |
| Genus: | Heliotropium |
| Species: | H. arborescens |
| Binomial name | |
| Heliotropium arborescens L. |
|
The Garden Heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens) is a highly fragrant perennial plant, originally from Peru. It is especially notable for its intense, rather vanilla-like fragrance. Common names include cherry pie and "common heliotrope". Note that the common name "garden heliotrope" may also refer to Valerian (herb).
During the Victorian era in England this plant gained great recognition, often appearing in gardens and the herbaceous borders of parks. Its popularity may have become less in more modern times, but hardy and colourful varieties, such as 'Princess Marina', have ensured that this plant still regularly appears in seed catalogues and garden centres. Other popular varieties include, 'Mary Fox', the highly scented 'White Lady' or 'White Queen' and a taller variety 'Florence Nightingale'. A heliotrope was laid on the coffin of Emily Dickinson.