Cherry Pie

[Robert Cummings]

One of my dear customers said she wanted cherry pie and white Antirrhinums planted in a circular bed on the edge of the drive. After scratching my head for a while and having a quick look at one of my array of reference books I was gently reminded that cherry pie is in fact Heliotrope, I''ve not come across this plant for over twenty five years and remember growing it for annual summer bedding displays in our local parks.i thought it was no longer grown, maybe gone out of fashion as some plants do. Pleased to say we were able to get hold of some and planted with the white Antirhinum's. The smell on the wind is absolutely wonderful and yes they really do smell of cherry pie, was just wondering if anyone else grows these lovely little plants.

 

[Verdun]

Hey Robert, nice someone else is mentioning heliotrope I often suggest heliotrope when garden scent is mentioned.
I grow the perennial Chatsworth, White Lady, White Queen and another (name escapes me for the moment)
I have these in pots by my front and back doors, on pathways, by seats in the garden, and in the garden itself.
The scent is wonderful....yes, cherry pie is descriptive and apt.....and wafts around the garden esp after mist, rain etc and the sun emerges.
The annual (usually marine) is a poor imposter......Chatsworth is far, far superior. White Lady and White Queen are also excellent and slightly different in scent. Chatsworth makes larger, more woody plants. ....shrubs really....whereas the annuals will stay relatively small.
Heliotrope can often survive winters down here but cuttings taken now and in early September provide plenty of large plants for next summer.
A white combination? Gaura Corries Gold or Papillon assort well with them

 

[Robert Cummings]

That's really interesting, so Heliotrope is alive and well after all.