In the days when ladies wore puffy skirts and danced at balls, flowers were a good decoration and provided a pleasant scent during festive events. The heliotrope flowers, smelling almost like vanilla or cinnamon, were very popular at the time. But these plants were rather capricious and gradually in the gardens of the inhabitants were for the most part replaced by annual grasses and flowers, which did not require such careful care. However, due to its specific and bright smell, heliotrope was not displaced by a more unpretentious flora completely from the flower beds.
The more actively the selection developed, the more the growers experimented with this plant, trying to bring out a more resistant plant. Gradually, heliotrope varieties appeared, which began to be distinguished by high resistance, the beauty of the flower. But there was also a side effect as a result of active breeding, the flowers almost lost their special aroma, although initially it was because of it that this plant was popular. But due to the fact that modern heliotrope can be bred in two ways - by seeds and cuttings, gardeners still manage to achieve the reproduction of plants with the most vivid smell.
Description of the flower
The very name heliotrope literally translates as "one who turns after the sun." This plant is herbaceous perennial. Its height in nature reaches one and a half meters. When grown by gardeners, the stems can be 60 cm long. There are 300 species of this plant. Moreover, they are mostly wild. Homeland - North and South America, as well as the Mediterranean. It can grow in almost any sunny forest. Occurs in temperate zones. We grow it as an annual plant, as winters are too cold for it. At the same time, indoor versions of heliotropes live and develop well at home.
The heliotrope belongs to the gimlet family. This bush has large, pubescent, slightly wrinkled leaves. Their color is dark green. Both flowers and leaves are decorative. The flowers are small. Inflorescences are corymbose type. They are usually naturally dark blue or purple. Bred heliotrope white and blue.
Growing heliotrope from seeds
Of course, every gardener wants to grow a healthy plant. To do this, you need to purchase seeds only from trusted sellers. Gardeners know very well which seeds are worth purchasing. The best firms offering seeds of the Heliotrope popular today are Prestige, Search, Johnsons.
If you decide to grow a beautiful flower from your seeds, prepare for the fact that young plants will not retain the decorative qualities that the mother plant had.
Seeds should not be immediately planted in the ground. The thing is that flowering simply will not have time to start. It takes about 100 days from the first shoots to the formation of inflorescences. It is necessary to plant ready-made seedlings on the flowerbed.
How to sow seeds correctly
The seeds of this plant should be sown in late February or early March. For this, a special substrate is being prepared. Peat is taken in 4 parts and sand in one part. The mixture is steamed and ignited without fail. With the help of these procedures, it is possible to kill the fungus. The soil is carefully poured into the container, leveled well and slightly compacted. The size of the heliotrope seeds is small. They just need to be scattered over the surface or slightly sprinkled with earth from above.
The planted seeds are covered with foil or soil. The room should be between 18 and 20 degrees. When the seeds sprout, the glass must be removed. The cultivation is then continued at 22 degrees. When 2-3 leaves appear, each plant should be planted in containers and watered well. After 2 weeks, you need to start feeding. For this, a certain fertilizer is applied.
During the period of seed germination, be sure to slightly moisten the soil in the greenhouse. For this, the soil is sprayed. You also need to increase daylight hours to 10 hours.
Planting heliotrope in open ground
When the return frosts are over, you can plant seedlings in a flower bed. This usually happens at the beginning of June.
It is important to choose a suitable landing site. Heliotrope loves the sun. You need to choose an open and bright place for him. But at the same time, there should not be a scorching sun. If the soil is very wet, the plant is likely to die. You can not plant heliotrope near water bodies or in lowlands.
It is worth approaching the soil responsibly. It should be fertile and breathable with a high content of the necessary humus. If the soil is heavy loamy, sand and peat will help lighten it.
It is very important to plant the seedlings correctly. For this, special holes are prepared, and a mixture of humus and leafy earth is added there. Seedlings are transplanted using the transshipment method. An earthy lump cannot be broken. Be sure to sprinkle it with humus on top. Since adult plants are branched, these flowers are planted according to the appropriate scheme 30 by 30 cm.
The planted plants are watered immediately. Then, not for 14 days, they are watered a maximum of three times a week. Then watering is carried out as needed. This is done when the soil dries out on top. Do not forget about the need to spray both seedlings and adult flowers. Heliotrope likes such procedures very much.
Plant care heliotrope in the open field
Watering
Some gardeners are sure that heliotrope is a finicky plant. But this is not entirely correct. You just need to properly water the plant. Flowers love moisture, but they cannot stand excess water. It is necessary to monitor the optimum soil moisture. If the soil dries up, you need to water it. The plant will also benefit from creating the high humidity found in tropical areas by spraying with water.
The soil
Plant care will become easier if you mulch the soil around it with compost or peat. As a result, you will rarely have to loosen the soil. This procedure is indispensable. With it, you can protect the earth from the appearance of unwanted crust. You will have to water less often, and watering can be reduced.
If you occasionally pinch the shoots, you can achieve the desired lush flowering of the heliotrope.
Top dressing
Until the heliotrope begins to bloom, it is fed every two weeks with a special mineral complex fertilizer. Then you can stop these procedures.
Growing heliotrope at home
Heliotrope can be successfully grown at home. In this case, it will be a perennial plant.Caring for him is exactly the same as for the garden. Reproduction and planting are similar. Only the Peruvian species can be grown at home.
In summer, the flower needs a temperature of 25 degrees, and in winter 6 degrees. Throughout the entire flowering period, mandatory feeding of homemade heliotrope is required. This is the time span from May to August. Special fertilizers are used for flowers. When growing heliotrope at home, do not forget that it constantly exudes aroma. It is worth checking that there is no allergic reaction to it.
When growing outdoors, it is also worth remembering that the plant is originally from places with a warm climate, which means that the flower should be planted where there will be a lot of sunlight, fertile soil and moderate humidity.
Reproduction of heliotrope
Reproduction of heliotrope by cuttings
Cuttings are also suitable for reproduction of heliotrope. To do this, heliotrope is stored for the winter, since it is impossible to get a stalk from an annual flower that grows in the garden. It is from the flowering seedlings that you can choose the samples you like the most and continue their cultivation with cuttings, preserving the aroma and flower shape you like. Cuttings are obtained at the end of winter, early spring and are planted outside when there is definitely no frost.
A strong blooming heliotrope should be chosen. It is dug up and transplanted into a pot. Plants in winter should be kept at home, in greenhouses or greenhouses with an average temperature of at least 10-15 degrees. The optimum room temperature should be no higher than 18 degrees. For a tropical flower, you need to increase the daylight hours to 10 hours. At a higher temperature of the content, the shoots will turn out to be elongated and weak.
In January-February, you need to choose the strongest, necessarily young shoot and cut it off, and then divide it into cuttings. Use root root for processing slices. Then they are planted in pots. Compulsory lighting is required.
Reproduction of heliotrope by seeds
Since two propagation methods can be used for these plants, the choice will depend on what the task will be. In early spring, late winter, the plant reproduces due to the seeds that give seedlings. Such representatives bloom quite late in the northern climate, which makes it difficult to enjoy the flowers of this plant to the fullest. And the flowers from each seed are obtained in a different shape, shade and brightness of the smell.
Heliotrope after flowering: how and when to collect seeds
When flowering is complete, heliotropes are traditionally dug up and then discarded. If you are looking to breed with seeds, you need to collect them before you dig up the plant. The collection begins at the moment when the flowers wither and turn black. Seed boxes appear instead. They are carefully collected. Seeds are extracted and sorted out from them. Then they are dried and placed in a matchbox or paper envelope. Store in this form until spring.
Winter heliotrope care
Traditionally, this plant is not preserved for the winter. When flowering ends, it is removed. The flowerbed is dug up for the winter. If you really do not want to part with your favorite plant, even for three months, you can simply dig it up and transplant it into a flowerpot. In winter, it will grow on your windowsill. The temperature in the apartment should not exceed 18 degrees. The duration of daylight hours must be increased. In such conditions, it will bring you joy and bloom well. When spring comes, you simply return it to the flower bed.
Heliotrope in landscape design
Heliotropes were successfully used in the 19th century to decorate the gardens and parks of the estates of the nobles. Today you can successfully give your own personal plot a similar style. So in the garden, heliotrope successfully replaces the curbs. It makes luxurious flower beds. It is often combined with various plants in group plantings. Begonias, petunias, pelargoniums, rudbeckia are perfect for him. Flowers should be short.They must not block the sun with the heliotrope.
If grown in single flowerpots, it will become an elegant standard tree.
Popular types and varieties of heliotrope
Today, only a few heliotropes are grown in culture. New hybrid variants of these plants have been developed.
Peruvian (tree)
The most popular variety for breeding. This is a spreading bush. Its height reaches 60 cm. The flowers are incredibly fragrant. Their color is blue or purple. The diameter of the inflorescence is 15 cm. Such a heliotrope blooms well up to the very frost. The most widespread are hybrid varieties from the Marine series:
- Marine Mini is a low-growing variety. The height of the bushes is up to 25 cm. Its main feature is green leaves with an unusual shade of purple.
- Luxurious Black Beauty. The flowers are of a pronounced purple color. The characteristic vanilla aroma exudes. The most fragrant of all varieties.
- Marine Dwarf. Flowers of its characteristic dark blue hue. The plant reaches a height of 35 cm.
- Charming Princess Marina. It has a weak aroma. Plants grow up to 30 cm in height.
High corymbose
The tallest of all types. They may well grow up to 120 cm. The shape of the leaves is elongated, lanceolate. Outwardly it looks like a boat. Below, the color of the leaves is darker than above. Flowers of light blue or blue hue. Inflorescences reach a length of 10 cm. Such heliotropes bloom from early summer to late autumn.
Lush European
It grows in the Mediterranean countries, as well as in the states of South America. Plant height up to 40 cm. The stem is branching. The leaves are oblong. Their color is yellowish-green or light green. The flowers form curls. Gradually, they form very lush and incredibly dense inflorescences. Bloom from May to late August.
Sprawling Kurasavsky
The bush is quite lush. Its height is palpable. In volume, the plant can reach 1 meter 20 cm. It grows to a minimum of 60, and a maximum of 100 cm in height. Flowers are pale bluish-white. The inflorescence is very lush. The peduncle is long and strong.
Stalk embracing undersized
Not very popular with flower growers. Plant height is small. The leaves are long, lanceolate with wavy edges. Flowers of a pronounced purple hue.
Diseases and pests
It is possible that heliotrope can be affected by fungal diseases. The remedy is fungicides. Insecticides (Actellik) are used to control pests such as whitefly, aphids and spider mites. It is likely that re-treatment will be required after a week.
Today heliotrope has become popular again and many gardeners are happy to grow it. The plant has gained popularity as a raw material for perfumery production - it's all about the noble aroma of vanilla, which is inherent in these luxurious flowers.
It is popularly believed that heliotrope has medicinal properties. It is used to remove parasites. It was also used to treat lichens and warts. Heliotrope contains a poisonous alkaloid. Therefore, you should not use this plant for self-treatment without consulting a doctor.
