Picture ©Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Heliotropium x hybrida 'Marine'

Sun/shade: sun or part shade
Description: Once you've experienced the sweet, pungent scent, coming from Heliotrope, or 'cherry pie' as it is commonly called, on a still summer evening you won't want to be without it. Few plants can fill the air with such a heady fragrance as this. Marine is a royal purple, large flowered yet compact form with attractive, dark green foliage and bushy habit. Excellent for beds, borders and as a summer flowering pot plant. Flowers summer. Height 45cm (18in).
Sowing: Sow in late winter/early spring (February to March) 1.5mm (1/16in) deep in a good free draining seed compost, which should be moist but not over wet. Germination takes 14-21 days at 20-25C (70-75F). Lowering the temperature at night helps germination.
Growing: Transplant when large enough to handle into 7.5cm (3in) pots and grow on in cooler conditions. When 10-13cm (4-5in) tall pinch out the growing point and repeat when the side shoots reach the same length to make them bushy. Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions and-plant out after all risk of frost 30cm (12in) apart in a sunny, sheltered spot in light well drained soil.
Aftercare: Can be grown as pot plants in 13cm (5in) pots but do not feed. For maximum scent, grow in a warm sunny sheltered spot.

This plant can be found in:
Petal A