Hundreds of tiny flowers gather into cloud-like clusters of blue, yellow or soft pink above rosettes of leathery, lance-shaped leaves. Sea lavender (Limonium) is grown both for drying into long-lasting bouquets and for flowering difficult ground that is sandy, dry and salt-laden; give it full sun and light, well-drained soil and it needs almost nothing from you.
| Botanical name | Limonium sp. |
|---|---|
| Common names | statice, sea lavender, caspia |
| Family | Plumbaginaceae (plumbago) |
| Types | annual, biennial, perennial depending on species |
| Height | 6 in to 3 feet (15 to 90 cm), depending on species |
| Exposure | full sun |
| Soil | light, well-drained, any pH |
| Flowering | summer |
| Foliage | some are deciduous, others evergreen |
With its hundreds of tiny flowers forming cloud-like clusters of blue, yellow or soft pink, it’s hard to resist the enchantment!
The botanical genus of statice (Limonium in Latin) includes annual, biennial and perennial species. The perennial species, furthermore, might have either deciduous or evergreen leaves. Sea lavender typically serves two purposes.
This particular statice, or sea lavender, forms rosettes with long, lance-like leathery leaves. They turn red as fall rolls in. The blooming is a like a fairy’s dream come true, small purple blue flowers seeming to float in the air.
This species has evergreen leaves, again rosettes that form a clump with a woody stump. The small trumpet-like flowers are tinged with blue.
Originally a perennial, L. sinuatum is grown as an annual.
Unlike the other species, this statics has lanceolate and deeply marked leaves.
The blooming comes in a range of colors (pink, yellow or blue).
This species is very different from the previous ones: the blooming forms tall panicles of pink or purple tube-shaped flowers. The foliage, on the other hand, is similar to that of its relatives: lanceolate and forming rosettes.
The genus covers everything from long-lived rosettes to annuals grown for the vase, and they do not all want the same ground. Here is how the four species described above compare.
| Species | Type | Foliage | Flowers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limonium latifolium | Perennial | Long, lance-like leathery rosettes turning red in autumn | Small purple-blue, appearing to float in the air |
| L. bellidifolium | Perennial | Evergreen rosettes forming a clump with a woody stump | Small trumpet-like, tinged with blue |
| L. sinuatum | Perennial grown as an annual | Lanceolate and deeply marked | Pink, yellow or blue |
| L. suworowii | Annual | Lanceolate, forming rosettes | Tall panicles of pink or purple tube-shaped flowers |
Only L. suworowii breaks the rule on soil, and it is also the only one that occasionally picks up disease.
Apart from Limonium suworowii, which prefers rich and moist soil, all other statice will favor sandy and well-drained soil. It also loves it when it’s growing in full sun. Planting is done from nursery pots either in spring or fall, but if you’re starting from seed you should really sow them in spring.
For perennials, simply dig a hole about 4 inches deep (10 cm), and settle the plant clump inside. It helps if you carefully break the root ball up a bit.
As for annuals, sow under cover at the very beginning of spring. Transplant to the ground or to the final pot when the sprouts are an inch or two tall (a few centimeters).
Space plants 20 to 24 inches (50 to 60 cm) apart, so that air may circulate among them well.
On top of being beautiful, statice will come along fine without any help from your part. Extremely drought-resistant, it’s virtually useless to water. As for pruning, it depends.
Depending on the species, you’ll have to follow different paths:
To grow new statice plants, simply divide the perennials in spring, or sow new seeds in fall or at the beginning of spring.
Statice is a plant with a high resistance. Insects and diseases seem to never get a hold of it! Perhaps only L. suworowii occasionally falls victim to Botrytis and to powdery mildew.
Sea lavender is ideal when setting up a garden along the coast. It also excels in rocky terrain, or to decorate a mound. Remember to dry its magnificent flowers to create fabulous bouquets to decorate your house. One more thing: to increase the impact of its ethereal blooming, pair your Limonium with similar flowers such as gypsophila or Argentinian verbena.
Hang the cut bundles upside down in a dark, airy room so the blues and pinks keep their colour instead of bleaching.
Place statice where lawn sprinklers and rich organic mulches cannot reach the rosettes, since constant damp at the crown is what rots it.
Grouped with sea holly, thrift and ornamental grasses, Limonium forms a gravel-garden planting where every companion wants the same baked, free-draining soil.
Its flower clusters are busy with bees and butterflies, so a spot beside a path or seat pays off.
