Marino Blue Heliotrope, also known as Cherry Pie Plant, has clusters of dark blue flowers with white in the center surrounding a dark eye above dark green foliage. These fragrant clusters smell like cherry pie to some and vanilla to others and still others say grape popsicle. Hot, sunny locations bring out the fragrance.
Marino Blue Heliotrope comes from the Greek words Helios meaning sun and Tropos meaning turn. Much like sunflowers, the bloom clusters follow the path of the sun throughout the day. Truly a “head turner”! They like to bask in the sun for about 6 hours a day. Preferably more in the morning sun, especially in hotter climates. Enjoy them from spring through fall’s first frost. Hummingbirds won’t be able to resist the sweet little flowers but deer find them less desirable.
Size: #4.5
Spacing: Plant 15″ to 20” apart.
Height: Grows 10″ to 14″ tall.
How To Grow: Plant in part sun.
Outstanding Features: These fragrant beauties were very popular in the early to mid 1900s and may have been grown in your grandmother’s cottage garden.
Tips: Plant in moist, well-drained soil. Deadhead to promote reblooming. May need to have plenty of air-flow to prevent powddery mildew.
Uses: Garden Bed, Containers, Landscapes
