Mallotonia gnaphalodes Sea Lavender1
Introduction
Sea lavender is one of the best adapted small shrubs or tall ground covers for the seaside landscape (Fig. 1). Its pubescent, silvery foliage is borne in tufts toward the ends of branches. Small white flowers are produced year-round among the developing leaves. Despite their small size, their abundance allows them to provide a nice showy display. Plants grow slowly, eventually reaching about 5 feet tall. Many are smaller than this when exposed to direct salt spray, but they often grow very wide
General Information
Scientific name: Mallotonia gnaphalodes
Pronunciation: mal-loe-TOE-nee-uh naf-fuh-LOE-deez
Common name(s): sea lavender
Figure 1.
Sea lavender
Family: Boraginaceae
Plant type: shrub; ground cover
USDA hardiness zones: 10B through 11 (Fig. 2)
Figure 2.
Shaded area represents potential planting range.
Planting month for zone 10 and 11: year round
Origin: native to Florida
Uses: reclamation plant; border; mass planting; ground cover
Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the plant
Description
Height: 2 to 5 feet
Spread: 6 to 20 feet
Plant habit: spreading
Plant density: dense
Growth rate: slow
Texture: fine
Foliage
Leaf arrangement: alternate
Leaf type: simple
Leaf margin: entire
Leaf shape: spatulate
Leaf venation: none, or difficult to see
Leaf type and persistence: evergreen
Leaf blade length: 2 to 4 inches
Leaf color: blue or blue-green
Fall color: no fall color change
Fall characteristic: not showy
Flower
Flower color: white
Flower characteristic: fall flowering; winter flowering
Fruit
Fruit shape: round
Fruit length: less than .5 inch
Fruit cover: fleshy
Fruit color: black
Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy
Trunk and Branches
Trunk/bark/branches: not particularly showy; typically multi-trunked or clumping stems
Current year stem/twig color: green
Current year stem/twig thickness: medium
Culture
Light requirement: plant grows in full sun
Soil tolerances: acidic; alkaline; sand; loam;
Drought tolerance: high
Soil salt tolerances: good
Plant spacing: 36 to 60 inches
Other
Roots: usually not a problem
Winter interest: no special winter interest
Outstanding plant: plant has outstanding ornamental features and could be planted more
Invasive potential: not known to be invasive
Pest resistance: long-term health usually not affected by pests
Use and Management
Sea lavender is best used in seaside plantings with other dune-resistant vegetation. Planted inland, they often develop root rot in irrigated landscapes. A full sun location keeps foliage dry and helps maintain plant health. Plants in partial shade thin and grow poorly.
Pests and Diseases
Root rot is probably the biggest problem in irrigated landscapes.
Footnotes
This document is FPS-379, 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.
Edward F. Gilman, professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611.
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