Heliophila is a genus of flowering plants in the Brassicaceae family. Members of this genus are either annuals or perennials and some are popular as ornamental plants. Endemic to southern Africa, the majority of the approximately 80 species grow in South Africa, particularly the Cape Floristic Region, while a few extend into the Namib Desert. Heliophila is one of only two genera of Brassicaceae endemic to southern Africa. The majority of the species grow in the winter-rainfall Cape Floristic Region and the more arid Namaqualand, while a smaller portion extend to the rest of South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland, and Lesotho.

Heliophila africana, synonymously known as Heliophila integrifolia, Heliophila pilosa, Heliophila pilosa var. digitata, Heliophila pilosa var. incisa, Heliophila pilosa var. integrifolia, Heliophila rostrata, Heliophila stricta or Heliophila trichinostyla and commonly known as Blou Sporrie in Afrikaans and African Sunspurge in English is a South African endemic species found in the Northern Cape and Western Cape Provinces. Heliophila africana is a sprawling annual herb sometimes branching from the base and usually reaching 40 cm in height, occasionally taller than 1 m. The alternate, simple leaves are narrowly lanceolate, dull to dark green and roughly hairy. Their margins may be slightly lobed or toothed. The blue or mauve, four-petalled flowers have hairy sepals. The petals have small white patches at the base.