Heliotropium arborescens is a species of highly fragrant, flowering perennial plant in the borage family of Boraginaceae, originally from and native to Peru. It can grow up to 1.2m tall and broad. Heliotropium arborescens is a bushy, short-lived, evergreen shrub, with dense cluster of bright purple flowers. It is especially notable for its intense, rather vanilla-like fragrance. Common names include "Cherry Pie", "Garden Heliotrope", "Common Heliotrope", and just "Heliotrope". Note that the common name "Garden Helotrope" may also refer to Valerian (herb) which is not closely related.
As a perennial, it is hardy in zones 9 to 11, and requires wintering indoors in zones 8 or colder. It is hardy down to about 5 °C (41 °F). It can also be grown as a half-hardy annual (grown from seed under glass and planted out after all danger of frost has passed) in those areas. Alternatively soft-wood cuttings may be taken in summer. During the Victorian Era in England, this plant gained great recognition, often appearing in gardens and the herbaceous borders of parks. A vanilla scented heliotrope was laid on the coffin of Emily Dickinson.
Its popularity may have become less in more modern times, but hardy and colorful cultivars, such as "Princess Marina", have ensured that this plant still regularly appears in seed catalogues and garden centers. Other popular cultivars include, "Mary Fox", the highly scented "White Lady" or "White Queen", the taller "Florence Nightingale", "Fragrant Delight" (fragrant purple flowers and leaves with purple highlights), "Marine" (large, dark purple flower heads up to 15cm in diameter with burgundy leaves), "Sweet Heaven" (paler flowers and is more heat tolerant), "White" (smells like almonds), and "Chatsworth". Both "Chatsworth" and "Princess Marina" have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Please note that some parts of the Heliotropium arborescens, from the seeds to the plant itself, are toxic if ingested. It has been noted by the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center, in an article on heliotropes, that they are a substance which is toxic to horses and can induce liver failure in equines. The plant itself is not very palatable, but will be eaten by animals with no other forage available; poisonings typically occur from ingestion of green plant material or material in hay. The toxic components can cause liver failure, referred to as "walking disease" or "sleepy staggers". Signs of Heliotrope toxicity include weight loss, weakness, sleepiness, yawning, incoordination, yellowish discoloration to mucus membranes (icterus, neurologic problems secondary to liver failure (aimless walking, chewing motions, head pressing). Animals may appear to be normal at first, then become suddenly affected; the syndrome progresses rapidly over a few days to a week.
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