The Higgledy People’s Front were convening for tea and those pink wafer biscuit things when Comrade Oli announced he’s been home to visit his folks and they had given him a load of Statice seeds. (They used to run a flower farm back in the day) Clearly this was a sign for me to write a post on these most elegant of the annuals. So…are you sitting comfortably? …then I shall begin…
I can only speak for Southern England when I say Limonium is commonly called Sea lavender or Statice…I believe it may also be known as Latifolia in the West country. It is one of the most widely used dried flowers in the country…though we at Higgledy aren’t into dried flowers…we think they’re very 80’s and those bright and dyed colours are  somewhat ‘laura Ashley on acid’.
The word ‘Limonium’ is Greek and is derived from the word meadow…which is where the little chaps are most at home.
How to propagate Statice
One has two choices, either get the seeds started under glass 6 to 8 weeks before planting out or plant after you are sure the frosts have retreated to whence they came. Plant is a sandy, free draining soil, in a bed that has been tilled to a fine tilth and that is in full sun.
‘Growing on’ Statice
They don’t mind a mild drought but don’t leave completely dry for too long. Space your seedlings out to about 12 inches. Some say give a light fertilizer in spring but we tend to leave them a bit ‘keen’ and they perform well for us.
Statice as a cut flower
Its a beauty in the vase…some say its Kitsch…I tend to agree and that’s part of its appeal. Try arranging it with some lavender, pink salvia or even rosemary…rest assured you won’t see that combo in the foyer of Morrisons.
Where to acquire statice seeds
Nickys nursery do a fine selection as do Sutton seeds. Let us know what varieties you plant and how you get on…if you can send us photos and we’ll post them.
Why not saunter over to the Higgledy People’s Front Top 50 annuals for cutting?
January 11, 2011 @ 5:09 pm
It’s a fab flower and no mistake! I’ve seen it growing wild at the back of seering hot sand dunes near Almeria, Spain. There it was a tiny plant just 6 inches high with a striking bright purple flower. As a younger man I harvested it by the barrowload (dozens of them!) for my folks up in Yorkshire. Beautiful intense colours including a pale yellow and a salmony pink. Dead easy to dry but much nicer fresh.
January 11, 2011 @ 12:06 pm
Statice is its name in these parts(Northants). Its my Dad’s favourite flower and we grow some for him from seed every year. I’m always amazed at how tall and bushy it grows from that tiny seedling. He hangs it in his shed to dry it and keeps a vaseful in the fireplace to remind him of summer. I will follow your tips and keep some for my garden this year as we always lose a few seedlings with my minimal care method-sow it , water in, then ignore completely until someone asks me where it is!
January 11, 2011 @ 10:09 am
‘Laura Ashley on acid’ – thank you for causing me my first coffee nose-trick of the year!! Is sea-lavender what I see every year growing wild on the saltmarshes in Norfolk?? That is what we have always called it, but now I am not so sure. Belinda
January 11, 2011 @ 11:37 am
it is called ‘Marsh Rosemary’ as well…so perhaps….I shall have a little look about and find out more….
January 11, 2011 @ 9:11 am
I have used the bright purple in arrangements – just a tiny little bit to add a flash of colour can look good, but I agree it’s not the most lovely of flowers. To me (West Country via Essex) the annual is statice but sea lavender is the perennial limonium, which I do grow a row of. It has a completely different look – light, breezy and lovely. x
January 11, 2011 @ 11:40 am
oh I sea!!!! (do you sea what I did there…clever) So they are very different are they? Am I making things up again? ;) I had better go back to school…oops…
top 50 annual flowers for cutting | Higgledy Garden
January 10, 2011 @ 11:18 pm
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