FNPS Plant Database

Heliotropium gnaphalodes

sea-lavender, sea-rosemary
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

sea-lavender, sea-rosemary

Synonym(s):

Malotonia gnaphalodes, Argusia gnaphalodes, Tournefortia gnaphalodes

Genus species:

Heliotropium gnaphalodes

Family:

Boraginaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

shrub

Size:

3-6 ft tall by 3-10 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

brown,black,NA

Phenology:

Evergreen. Blooms throughout the year.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Hurricane Wind Resistance, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Hedges; small specimen plants; mass planting; ground cover; large planters. Dune reclamation.

Considerations:

A beautiful shrub for oceanfront gardens, but susceptible to diseases inland.

Availability:

Native Nurseries

Propagation:

Seed, layering. Once established may form colonies as limbs that get covered by sand may root.

Light:

Full Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

Coming Soon!

Not wet but not extremely dry ---to--- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salt.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Circum-neutral to calcareous

Suitable to Grow In:

9B,10A,10B,11

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies

Nectar plant for Miami blue ( Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri ) and other butterfly species.





Attracts pollinators--mostly butterflies.

Native Habitats:

Coastal uplands, dunes.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Is listed as Endangered in Florida.

Citations:

Haehle, Robert G. and Joan Brookwell.  1999.  Native Florida Plants.  Gulf Publishing Company.  Houston, TX.



Hammer, Roger L.  2015.  Attracting hummingbirds and butterflies in tropical Florida.  University Press of Florida.



Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A gardener's guide to Florida's native Plants.  University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.



Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ).  Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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