Peruvian native short-lived shrub or container plant with dense rounded heads of small deep purple or white flowers carrying a distinct vanilla-cherry fragrance — the source of the alternative common name "cherry pie".
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 9–11 | −6.7 °C to 10 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| RHS hardiness rating | H1c | 5 °C to 10 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 9 | −1 °C and warmer | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 3–7 | −5 °C and warmer | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
Growing notes
- Plant in summer container displays and warm-climate borders — fragrance strongest on warm afternoons, often surprisingly powerful for a small flower
- WARNING: All parts toxic if ingested — contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, can cause liver damage; do not eat under any circumstance, keep away from grazing animals
- Frost-tender — overwinter under glass or treat as annual outside zone 9
- Pinch out growing tips for compact bushy growth
- Not reliably hardy outdoors in Canada — Canadian zone values shown represent the system maximum and do not imply garden cultivation north of the warmest coastal pockets.
Categories
Related plants
Cross-check Heliotrope (Cherry pie) against your zones