How to Grow Limonium Plants

Guide to Growing Sea Lavender, Statice, Sea Pink, Caspia, and Marsh Rosemary

The Limonium plant genus is very large in number. it thus contains half hardy annuals, half hardy perennials, and hardy perennials.

The plants typically range in height from 20 cm to 90 cm (8 to 36 inches).

Limonium pectinatum
Limonium pectinatum by Javiersanp; creative commons.

They have a woody nature. They can carry either panicle or spiky flowers. These are often trumpet shaped.

The time of blooming depends upon the Limonium species. This varies from the end of spring through into the autumn.

Limonium
Limonium by Tom hilton.

Some of the common names for Limonium include Sea Pink, Sea Lavender, Caspia, and Statice.

Commonly Grown Limonium Species Photographs and Plant Identification

Limonium sinuatum

Limonium sinuatum
Limonium sinuatum (Wavyleaf Sea Lavender), photograph by cultivar413; CC.

Limonium perezii

Limonium perezii
Limonium perezii (Perez's Sea Lavender / Seafoam Statice), photograph by cultivar413; CC.

Limonium latifolium

Limonium latifolium
Limonium latifolium (German Statice / Tatarian Sea-lavender / Statice), photograph by Amanda Slater; CC.

Limonium californicum

Limonium californicum
Limonium californicum (California Sea Lavender / Western Marsh Rosemary), picture by Dick Culbert; CC.

Limonium Plant Growing and Care Guide

Common Names: Caspia, Sea Lavender, Marsh Rosemary, Sea Pink, Tree limonium, Sea everlasting, Statice.
Family: Plumbaginaceae.
Life Cycle: Half hardy annual. Hardy perennial, half hardy perennial.
Height: 4 to 28 inches (10 to 70 cm).
Native: Europe, Asia, Australasia, Africa, North America.
Growing Region: Annuals: zones 2 to 10. Perennials: zones 4 to 10.

Flowers: Spring, summer and/or autumn.
Flower Details: Purple, violet, pink. Tiny, often trumpet shaped. Flowers carried on spikes or panicles.
Foliage: Simple. Lobed. Rosettes.

Sow Outside: Cover seed. Annuals: following last frost. Perennials: before last frost. Spacing 8 to 24 inches (20 to 60 cm).
Sow Inside: Germination time: eight days to three weeks. Temperature 70 to 75°F (21 to 24°C). Seven or eight weeks before expected last frost. Transplant outdoors a few weeks after the last frost; temperatures should not drop below 45°F (7°C).

Requirements: Full sunlight. Light soils. Sandy soil. Can survive in dry soils. Provide support if necessary. Yearly feed for perennials. Cut perennials to the ground in autumn. Propagate: divide perennials in spring or autumn.

How to Grow Sea Pink, Sea Lavender, and other Limonium Plants in the Garden

When growing members of Limonium plant species from seed, annuals should be sown after the last frost of spring, whilst perennials should be planted before the last frost.

Once sown, simply cover the seeds. Sea Pink and other Limonium like to grow in sunny areas of the garden. Ideally, this should have a light sandy and dry soil.

If first planning to start off sea pink seedlings indoors, then the growing process should start about two months before the last frost of spring is expected.

They take around two to three weeks to germinate at 18 to 24 degrees centigrade (64 to 75°F).

Once growing, the young plants should be spaced at about 30 cm (12 inches; small Limonium species) to 50 cm (20 inches; larger varieties.

Caring for Sea pink (Limonium plant species) in the Garden

Once established, Sea pink are easy to look after. They are tolerant of dry soil, so only need to be watered in extremely dry conditions.

Once the season is over in autumn, cut Limonium plants back to the ground.

If you require more plants, only from the perennial varieties of Limonium, then divide in spring (autumn flowerers) or autumn (spring flowerers).

I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Limonium plants. You may also enjoy the following Gardener's HQ growing guides: How to grow Armeria maritima, Gladioli, Globe Daisy, and Ceratostigma plumbaginoides plants.