Heliotropium europaeum
European heliotrope
(c) Duarte Frade, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Heliotropiaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Heliotropium europaeum (European heliotrope) is a non-native California herb in the Heliotropiaceae family, recognized by distinctive hairy, non-succulent habit and disturbed habitat preference.
European heliotrope is a naturalized annual found in northern and central Sierra Nevada Foothills, Great Valley, Central Coast, San Francisco Bay, and North Coast ranges in open, often disturbed sites at elevations below 1,400 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces white flowers in small salverform clusters 3 to 5 millimeters in diameter. Growing with ascending to erect stems 5 to 40 centimeters tall that are puberulent and soft-hairy, it develops a distinct taproot. Its leaves are elliptic to ovate, 1.5 to 5 centimeters long, with an obtuse tip and covered in short, appressed hairs. The fruit consists of four irregularly roughened nutlets that are faintly tubercled.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; distinctive hairy, non-succulent habit and disturbed habitat preference
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, often disturbed sites
Elevation: < 1400 m
California counties: Tehama, Yolo, Mendocino, Glenn, Butte, Napa, Shasta, Tulare, Colusa, Solano, Sacramento, Sutter, Modoc, Alameda, San Diego, El Dorado
Outside California: eastern United States, native to southern and eastern Europe, northern Africa
Bloom period
Heliotropium europaeum blooms May-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Lobularia: Heliotropium has tubular 5-petaled flowers; Lobularia has 4-petaled flowers with separate petals spreading flat.; vs Lantana: Heliotropium has flowers in one-sided coils; Lantana has flowers in flat-topped, dense rounded clusters.; vs Cryptantha: Heliotropium has flowers in continuous coiled spikes; Cryptantha has flowers spaced along straight stems.; vs Myoporum: Heliotropium has tiny flowers in coiled clusters; Myoporum has larger axillary flowers with spotted throats.; vs Phacelia: Heliotropium has an undivided style; Phacelia has a style split partway into 2 branches.
Frequently asked questions
Is Heliotropium europaeum native to California?
No. Heliotropium europaeum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Heliotropium europaeum bloom?
Heliotropium europaeum blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Heliotropium europaeum grow?
Heliotropium europaeum occurs in Tehama, Yolo, Mendocino, Glenn, Butte, Napa, Shasta, Tulare and other counties, at elevations of < 1400 m.
What plant family does Heliotropium europaeum belong to?
Heliotropium europaeum is in the Heliotropiaceae family, genus Heliotropium.
What habitat does Heliotropium europaeum grow in?
Heliotropium europaeum grows in Open, often disturbed sites.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.