Alkali Heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum) is in the borage family family (Boraginaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,740 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from March to October, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Alkali Heliotrope: observations by month (U.S.)
About Alkali Heliotrope
Heliotropium curassavicum is a species of heliotrope that is native to much of the Americas, from Canada to Argentina, and can be found on other continents as an introduced species. It is known by several common names, such as seaside heliotrope, salt heliotrope, monkey tail, quail plant and "Chinese parsley" (although this last name is also used for coriander). in Latin American Spanish it is known as cola de mico,cola de gama or rabo alacrán, and...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Alkali Heliotrope by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1,658 | July | Apr–Oct |
| Texas | 571 | April | Mar–May |
| Nevada | 256 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Arizona | 73 | March | Mar–Jul |
| Florida | 47 | April | Apr–May |
| Utah | 37 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Hawaii | 29 | December | Aug–Jan |
| Mississippi | 27 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Oregon | 16 | September | Aug–Sep |
| New Mexico | 12 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Maryland | 6 | August | Aug–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (borage family)
Virginia bluebells
Distant Phacelia
Pacific hound's tongue
Notch-leaf Scorpionweed
Miami Mist
Menzies' baby blue eyes
Wild Canterbury Bells
Desert Bluebells
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Alkali Heliotrope?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to October.
Where is Alkali Heliotrope most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, Nevada.