Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

scorpion-tail

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Heliotropium angiospermum

Family:

Boraginaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

to about 2 ft.

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

Perennial in southern parts of Florida, treat as an annual further north.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Use as a tall groundcover or small shrub.

Considerations:

Can become somewhat weedy.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales

Propagation:

Seed.  Prolific self-seeder.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---to--- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

circum-neutral

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Butterflies

Nectar plant for Bahamian swallowtail ( Heraclides andraemon ), cassius blue ( Leptotes cassius ), Florida white ( Appias drusilla ), gray hairstreak ( Strymon melinus ), great southern white ( Ascia monuste ), gulf fritillary ( Agraulis vanilla ), Miami blue ( Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri ), queen ( Danaus gilippus ), rudy daggerwing ( Marpesia petreus ), Schaus' swallowtail ( Heraclides aristodemus ) and other butterflies. ( IRC )

Native Habitats:

Hammocks, disturbed sites

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments: