Blue Heliotrope

Heliotropium amplexicaule, also commonly known as "clasping heliotrope", "creeping heliotrope", "summer heliotrope"... to name but a few, is a flowering herbaceous plant in the family Boraginaceae. Native to South America, particularly Argentina, it is known on several other continents where it is an introduced species, and in Australia, is a noxious weed. It's also a poisonous species and is toxic to animals - livestock, cats, dogs, etc. Branched stems radiate out from a central taproot and generally grow to about 15-30 cms tall. The flowers are purple, lilac, blue or pinkish in colour and have a distinctive yellowish throat. Pretty, but nasty!