Seaside Heliotrope

(Heliotropium curassavicum)

 

Color Photograph: © by and courtesy of Jean Tosti

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Seaside Heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum)

Identification: Flowers small, blue or white, with 5 petals fused to form a tubular corolla with free lobes at the apex. Flowers arranged in strongly curled sprays. Stem and leaves smooth, fleshy. Plant found in open mats along the shore. Leaves elongate, alternate, pointed at the tip, and with smooth outer margins. Plant 6 to 18 inches in height.

Distribution: Primarily along the Atlantic Coast from Delaware to Florida. Also found in western North America and the Plains States and provinces.

Habitat: Seaside Heliotrope is a coastal species found along beaches and the margins of marshes.

Flowering period: June to October.

Seaside Heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum)

Similar Species:

The combination of its coastal habitat, the strongly curled flower sprays, and the smooth, fleshy foliage should easily identify Seaside Heliotrope.

Similar Species

No Similar Species