Bloomipedia
Alkali heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum)
Photo: Liren Varghese via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Alkali heliotrope

Heliotropium curassavicum

Alkali heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum) is a low shrub in the Boraginaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–September across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Alkali heliotrope is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–September.

35states where USDA records it
3Bloomipedia state lists include it
17,594U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: California, Hawaii, Nevada

Quick look

Heliotropium curassavicum, commonly called salt heliotrope, is a species of flowering plant in the family Heliotropiaceae. It is native to the Americas and Northern Australia and has been introduced elsewhere.

  • It belongs to the Boraginaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a subshrub with a annual, perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 35 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to California, Nevada and Hawaii. NatureServe
  • In California, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–September. iNaturalist
  • In Nevada, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 1.2 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 12,737 research-grade sightings of it in California, ranking #62 among the 178 flowers on our California list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 820 research-grade sightings of it in Nevada, ranking #39 among the 132 flowers on our Nevada list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 736 research-grade sightings of it in Hawaii, ranking #63 among the 118 flowers on our Hawaii list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (3,032 records)
Bloom time in the 3 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
CaliforniaNativeMay–September12,737
NevadaNativeApril–June820
HawaiiNativefew records (29)736

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
California
Not listed Not on California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in California. CNDDB listed plants (July 2026)
Nevada
Not listed Not on Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010). NatureServe: S5, secure in Nevada. NAC 527.010
Hawaii
Not listed Not on Hawaii threatened and endangered plants (HAR 13-107; the state list follows the federal list), DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Hawaii. HAR 13-107
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: NC (SH), OR (S2), VA (S1), WY (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsToxic to horses

ASPCA's entry “Heliotrope” (Heliotropium spp), which covers the whole genus, lists it as toxic to horses. Signs include: Horses: liver disease (must be ingested in large amount or over a long time period) Credit: Photo by G.A. Cooper, courtesy of Smithsonian… ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records alkali heliotrope in 35 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wyoming.

California counties with USDA records: Alameda, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Lake, Lassen, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Orange, Placer, Plumas, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tulare, Ventura, Yolo.

Nevada counties with USDA records: Carson City, Churchill, Clark, Douglas, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Washoe.

Hawaii counties with USDA records: Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai, Maui.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Alkali heliotrope a high shade tolerance, medium drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.5 to 8.5 and winter lows down to -28 °F.

Shade tolerance
High
Drought tolerance
Medium
Moisture use
Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to
medium, fine
Soil pH range
6.5 to 8.5
Minimum temperature tolerated
-28 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
110
Annual precipitation range
10 to 24 inches
Minimum root depth
10 inches
Salinity tolerance
High
Fertility requirement
Low
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
Moderate
Active growth period
Spring, Summer, Fall
Fruit or seed
Brown · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by
seed, sprigs
Commercial availability
No Known Source

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for HECU3. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Hawaii: Native; Lower 48 states: Native; Puerto Rico: Native; U.S. Virgin Islands: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 296 counties across 32 states; the most are in Texas (66), California (44), Louisiana (19).

Other Heliotropium on Bloomipedia (2): Indian heliotrope, Tree heliotrope.

More from the Boraginaceae family (42 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Virginia bluebells, Virginia waterleaf, Pacific hound's tongue, Distant phacelia, Virginia stickseed, Wild comfrey, Menzies' baby blue eyes, California yerba santa.

More California flowers

Pacific hound's tongue (Adelinia grandis)

Pacific hound's tongue

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🌼 Blooms in CA: February–April
Distant phacelia (Phacelia distans)

Distant phacelia

Phacelia distans

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🌼 Blooms in CA: February–April
Menzies' baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii)

Menzies' baby blue eyes

Nemophila menziesii

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🌼 Blooms in CA: February–May

Sources