Heliotropium curassavicum, commonly called salt heliotrope, is a species of flowering plant in the family Heliotropiaceae. It is native to the Americas and has been introduced elsewhere.
Heliotropium curassavicum is a perennial herb which can take the form of a prostrate creeper along the ground to a somewhat erect shrub approaching in height. The stem and foliage are fleshy, with the leaves thick and oval or spade-shaped.
The plentiful inflorescences are curled, coiling double rows of small bell-shaped flowers. Each flower is white with five rounded lobes and a purple or yellow throat. The fruit is a smooth nutlet.
There are five currently recognized varieties. These are:
The species is native to much of the Americas, from Canada to Argentina, including the West Indies and Hawaii. It can be found as an introduced species (in some cases being invasive) in Africa, Eurasia, and Australia.
It thrives in salty soils, such as beach sand, alkali flats, and salt marshes. It is often found in disturbed coastal sites.
Due to its wide geographical range that spans many nations and languages, H. curassavicum has been given an assortment of common names. In English, these include salt heliotrope, seaside heliotrope, monkey tail, quail plant and Chinese parsley. In Latin American Spanish, it is known as , or . It is called in Hawaii.