Flower profile

Tree heliotrope

Heliotropium arboreum

Tree heliotrope (Heliotropium arboreum) is a flowering plant in the Boraginaceae family, blooming mostly May–December across the U.S.

Tree heliotrope is a flowering plant. In Hawaii it's most often seen in bloom in May–December.

–states where USDA records it

2,117HI sightings*

2,117U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Hawaii

Quick look

Heliotropium arboreum is a species of flowering plant in the family Heliotropiaceae. It is native to tropical Asia including southern China, Madagascar, northern Australia, and most of the atolls and high islands of Micronesia and Polynesia. Common names include velvetleaf soldierbush, tree heliotrope, veloutier, and octopus bush.
From Wikipedia's article Heliotropium arboreum, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Boraginaceae family. ^iNaturalist
In Hawaii, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–December. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 2,117 research-grade sightings of it in Hawaii, ranking #14 among the 118 flowers on our Hawaii list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Hawaii, most flowering sightings come in May–December.

Flowering records by month in Hawaii (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (69 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe: Unknown We couldn't find this name in NatureServe Explorer. ^NatureServe
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. ^{HAR 13-107}

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)) 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 has no state-by-state distribution for this name, so we can't map it yet.

Names, range and relatives

Other Heliotropium on Bloomipedia (2): Alkali heliotrope, Indian 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 Hawaii flowers

Alkali heliotrope

Heliotropium curassavicum

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in HI

ʻōhiʻa lehua

Metrosideros polymorpha

Native

🌼 Blooms in HI: May–June

Beach naupaka

Scaevola taccada

Native

🌼 Blooms in HI: May–December

Sources

USDA PLANTS: no profile matched this name.
iNaturalist, Heliotropium arboreum: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Heliotropium arboreum (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Hawaii: Hawaii threatened and endangered plants (HAR 13-107; the state list follows the federal list), DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
Hawaii: Hawaii noxious weed list (HAR 4-68).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
Photo: Joshua Zupan via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.