Select Amaretto Heliotrope is a woody-stemmed annual flower grown for its intensely fragrant purple blooms that emerge from late spring through fall. This tender perennial thrives in zones 9 and warmer, reaching 30 to 36 inches tall with a compact 18-inch spread, making it substantial enough to anchor a sunny border or container display. The flowers attract pollinators reliably and resist deer browsing, while the plant's long bloom window from June through November rewards regular deadheading and consistent moisture.
Full Sun
High
9-9
36in H x 18in W
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High
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The fragrance is genuinely intoxicating, sweet and almond-like in character, which is where the Amaretto name comes from. It's a deer-resistant pollinator magnet that blooms prolifically from summer straight through to the first hard frost, offering six months of cutting-ready flowers. The plant grows tall enough to command attention but stays refined and manageable in both gardens and containers.
Select Amaretto Heliotrope is primarily grown as an ornamental flower. The intensely scented blooms are prized for fresh cutting and indoor arrangements, where their fragrance can perfume an entire room. The plant also works well as a pollinator attractor in gardens focused on supporting butterflies and other beneficial insects.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors in a warm environment between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Timing varies by location, but in most zones, start seeds 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost date to have substantial transplants ready for the garden.
Harden off seedlings over 7 to 10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. Transplant outdoors only after the last frost date has passed and soil has warmed; this is a frost-tender plant that will not tolerate cold soil or night temperatures below 50 degrees. Space plants 18 inches apart.
Cut flower clusters when the individual florets are fully open and the cluster is at its most fragrant, typically mid-morning after dew has dried. Blooms are ready to cut from June through November, depending on your climate. Cut stems at least 6 to 8 inches long for the longest vase life and most impact in arrangements.
Pinch back the growing tips when seedlings are 4 to 6 inches tall to encourage bushier, more compact growth and denser flowering. Throughout the season, deadhead spent flower clusters promptly to redirect energy toward continuous blooming rather than seed production.
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