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Publication #FPS-344

Limonium sinuatum Statice, Sea Lavender1

Edward F. Gilman2

Introduction

These colorful plants are an excellent source of dried flowers. The flowers are borne in clusters and colors include purple, apricot, yellow, pink, and blue. Statice is a good choice for seashore use since it is salt tolerant. Provide exposure to full sun and a well-drained soil. Overwatering can lead to root rot. In USDA hardiness zones 9b, 10, and 11, Limonium sinuatum is generally planted in the fall for winter and spring color.

General Information

Scientific name: Limonium sinuatum
Pronunciation: lye-MOE-nee-um sin-yoo-AY-tum
Common name(s): statice, sea lavender
Family: Plumbaginaceae
Plant type: biennial; perennial; herbaceous
USDA hardiness zones: all zones (Fig. 1)
Figure 1. 

Shaded area represents potential planting range.
Planting month for zone 7: May
Planting month for zone 8: Apr
Planting month for zone 9: Feb; Mar; Dec
Planting month for zone 10 and 11: Sep; Oct; Nov; Dec
Origin: not native to North America
Uses: mass planting; container or above-ground planter; cut flowers; border
Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the plant

Description

Height: 1 to 2 feet
Spread: 1 to 2 feet
Plant habit: upright
Plant density: moderate
Growth rate: moderate
Texture: medium

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: most emerge from the soil, usually without a stem
Leaf type: simple
Leaf margin: lobed
Leaf shape: oblong
Leaf venation: not applicable
Leaf type and persistence: not applicable
Leaf blade length: 4 to 8 inches
Leaf color: green
Fall color: not applicable
Fall characteristic: not applicable

Flower

Flower color: yellow; apricot; blue; pink; purple
Flower characteristic: year-round flowering

Fruit

Fruit shape: no fruit
Fruit length: no fruit
Fruit cover: no fruit
Fruit color: not applicable
Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: not applicable
Current year stem/twig color: green
Current year stem/twig thickness: medium

Culture

Light requirement: plant grows in full sun
Soil tolerances: clay; sand; acidic; loam;
Drought tolerance: moderate
Soil salt tolerances: unknown
Plant spacing: 6 to 12 inches

Other

Roots: not applicable
Winter interest: not applicable
Outstanding plant: not particularly outstanding
Invasive potential: not known to be invasive
Pest resistance: very sensitive to one or more pests or diseases which can affect plant health or aesthetics

Use and Management

The plants are propagated from seed. Germination can take as long as three weeks. Use care when transplanting.

Footnotes

1.

This document is FPS-344, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date October,1999. Reviewed May, 2007. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Edward F. Gilman, professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer-Chancy, Interim Dean.