Augusta^® Lavender Heliotrope Heliotropium hybrid

Was intrigued by this beautiful plant with charming lavender flowers this spring. It reminded me a bit of a lavender lantana. I bought 5 plants to fill in a mostly sunny area in our garden. The next week, one of the plants mysteriously began to wilt and died. The next week, despite good weather and plenty of rain another of the plants began looking sickly and perished. I placed a few Persian Shield plants around the remaining three expecting they would not make it, but they seemed to thrive surrounded by their new neighbors. Now into August the largest is about 18" tall and wide and all three plants have been covered with flowers non-stop all summer. If available next year, instead of mass planting will try using one or two of these in a mixed planting.

Fragrant, big, full, lush plant with myriads of stunning lavender blooms which delight the pollinators! We grew this at the Master Garden's Idea Garden in Urbana Illinois and it was a BIG hit both in the ground and in containers. I personally have killed so many Heliotropes in the past- they looked great in the store, but turned into sad, weak "shrining violets" when planted- they were fussy about soil conditions, pouted and died. I vowed to not buy them again, sadly. BUT ALONG CAME 'AUGUSTA LAVENDER' this year- a HUGE blooming wonder! Churned out blooms ALL season, was happy with all conditions- not daunted by some of the heavy rains and butterflies, bumblebees swarmed it! Gorgeous lavender blooms with dots of white and yellow make you happy just LOOKING at them. Very vigorous, but faded as the end of September rolled around- I don't blame it, i would be exhausted after such a CONTINUED show for 4-5 months also! Another MUST HAVE for next year!!!- and other gardeners agreed.