Alkali Heliotrope
Heliotropium curassavicum
Also known as Seaside Heliotrope, Salt Heliotrope, Seashore Heliotrope
Climate Match for your location
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A low-growing, salt-tolerant groundcover with small white or pale blue flowers and silvery-green foliage. Highly adaptable to harsh, alkaline conditions where other plants struggle.
Why grow it
Alkali heliotrope excels where conventional groundcovers fail, particularly in saline or alkaline soils that limit most ornamental options. Unlike many salt-tolerant species, it combines functional soil stabilization with modest ornamental value through its silvery foliage and pale flowers, making it useful for problem sites rather than premium display areas. Its low stature and spreading habit reduce maintenance compared to taller perennials in marginal landscapes.
Watch out for
In consistently moist or humid climates, monitor for fungal issues on the foliage, particularly if air circulation is poor. The plant spreads readily and can dominate small spaces, so placement should account for its sprawling tendency to prevent overshading of nearby plantings.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Heliotropiaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Caribbean and Central America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wyoming
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A low-growing, salt-tolerant groundcover with small white or pale blue flowers and silvery-green foliage. Highly adaptable to harsh, alkaline conditions where other plants struggle.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Alkali Heliotrope grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Alkali heliotrope excels where conventional groundcovers fail, particularly in saline or alkaline soils that limit most ornamental options. Unlike many salt-tolerant species, it combines functional soil stabilization with modest ornamental value through its silvery foliage and pale flowers, making it useful for problem sites rather than premium display areas. Its low stature and spreading habit reduce maintenance compared to taller perennials in marginal landscapes.
Watch out for
In consistently moist or humid climates, monitor for fungal issues on the foliage, particularly if air circulation is poor. The plant spreads readily and can dominate small spaces, so placement should account for its sprawling tendency to prevent overshading of nearby plantings.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Heliotropiaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Caribbean and Central America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wyoming
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
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