Heliotropium is a plant with special adaptations to help survive the hot summer months, often seen in fields surrounded by bare earth. It's blue-grey appearance is a result of the tiny hairs which reflect the sun's heat.

The tiny blue-white flowers are arranged in two parallel lines forming an unusual one sided spike. This is curled over where the new flowers appear at the end of the stem, straightening out as the fruits form.

The name of the plant is derived from Helios - the sun and tropos - to follow, as the flowers are said to track the sun as it crosses the sky.