# alkali heliotrope (*Heliotropium curassavicum*) Alkali heliotrope is a small, colorful plant that loves sunny places! It has pretty purple flowers and can grow in salty soils, making it special in nature. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 15 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![alkali heliotrope](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Starr_070123-3653_Heliotropium_curassavicum.jpg&width=800) Photo: Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Starr_070123-3653_Heliotropium_curassavicum.jpg) ## Appearance The alkali heliotrope has fleshy, pale green to grey-green leaves and delicate white or bluish-white flowers arranged in unique coiled spikes. Its low-growing, spreading form and succulent-like foliage help it stand out in salty environments. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Boraginales - **Family:** Heliotropiaceae - **Genus:** Heliotropium ## Interesting facts - Each tiny seed from this plant can float on water, helping it spread to new distant coastal homes! - Even though it grows in tough spots, its roots help stabilize sandy soils and prevent erosion! - Its scientific name, Heliotropium, means "turning to the sun," because its flowers often track the sun! - The coiled flower stalks unfurl like a spiral galaxy as new blooms open, a beautiful natural marvel! ## Special abilities - **Water Saver:** Its fleshy, succulent-like leaves store water, allowing alkali heliotrope to thrive in dry conditions and hot, arid climates. - **Ever-Blooming Beacon:** This plant produces flowers continuously over long periods, increasing its chances of attracting pollinators and successful reproduction. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-50 cm - **Spread:** 30-100 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Year-round - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Its small flowers provide nectar for these important insect visitors. - **Eaten by:** Cabbage Looper (*Trichoplusia ni*) — Its leaves are sometimes consumed by the larvae of this common moth. - **Eats:** [House Finch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-finch) (*Haemorhous mexicanus*) — Small birds sometimes feed on the tiny seeds produced by this plant. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Salt Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/salt-tolerant): Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify alkali heliotrope? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is alkali heliotrope? 10-50 cm ### How wide does alkali heliotrope spread? 30-100 cm ### How big are the flowers on alkali heliotrope? 0.2-0.5 cm ### When does alkali heliotrope bloom? Year-round ### Is alkali heliotrope edible? No ### Is alkali heliotrope toxic? Mild ### What is alkali heliotrope's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Crystal Cove Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/crystal-cove-historic-district) — California, US · Historic District - [South Coast Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/south-coast-botanic-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Texas State Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/texas-state-aquarium) — Texas, US · Zoo - [Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cockroach-bay-aquatic-preserve) — US · Nature Reserve - [Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/colonel-allensworth-state-historic-park) — California, US · State Park - [Hickam Air Force Base](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hickam-air-force-base) — Hawaii, US · Historic Site [View all places to see alkali heliotrope](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/alkali-heliotrope) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Alkali Heliotrope: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/alkali-heliotrope)