Heliotrope, << HEE lee uh trohp, >> is the name of a large group of plants with fragrant flowers. These flowers always face toward the sun. Another name for heliotrope is turnsole. Both names mean turning to the sun.
There are about 250 species of heliotropes. Most of them are weeds, but some are cultivated. The most commonly cultivated species is native to Peru. It is a shrubby plant that grows from 1 to 3 feet (30 to 91 centimeters) tall. It has oval leaves with many veins visible on the surface. The tiny, fragrant flowers grow in large flattened clusters. Each flower consists of a short tube with five pointed lobes that give it a star-shaped appearance. The flowers range in color from lavender to dark blue or, rarely, white. The fragrance of the Peruvian heliotrope is like that of vanilla or narcissus.
