Limonium

One of my favorite plants is Limonium, aka statice or sea lavender.  It has solved a problem area in my front yard.

Previously, The edge of the front lawn sloped down with a drop of about 12 or so inches from the cement steps up to the front of the house. The edge of the grass showed the roots of the turf and was frequently "burned" by the edge trimmer or lawn mower. This space was like a "no man's land" with the bare edge of concrete offering anything but curb appeal.

This part of the garden receives full exposure to the wind and sun. I choose to try some statice as a border alongside this walkway. I have seen this hardy plant survive and even thrive in similar conditions, no doubt the common name "sea lavender" was earned by the many gardens it has inhabited in the many gardens with a marine influence.

The statice has been in place now about five years. Snails are attracted by the leaves but the plants are so vigorous the damage is minimal. I trim the flower stalks occasionally when they fade. Soon there after new shoots will appear to take their place. My garden reference books say the "perezii" variety will bloom over the long summer but my experience is an almost continuous bloom through out the year. The flower clusters can grow up to 3 feet across and consist of a rich purple calyx with a tiny white corolla. The blooms dry very easily by hanging upside down until dry but I find they can be pretty messy. Since these plants bloom continuously, I just cut the fresh stalks when needed. Very little water is needed for these established plants and I do not add any fertilizer at all.

Enjoy this very giving plant in your garden with very little effort on your part.

Sea lavender. (photo by Trisha Rose)

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