Plant Guide

Other Names:  syn. Statice perezii

Description:

A tremendous drought tolerant variety producing lavender and white clusters of papery blooms that are one of the most popular dried flowers; perfect for full sun gardens, borders and rock gardens

Ornamental Features

Perez's Sea Lavender features showy plumes of lavender flowers with white overtones and brick red calyces at the ends of the stems from early summer to early fall. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its twisted narrow leaves remain green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Perez's Sea Lavender is a dense herbaceous annual with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Perez's Sea Lavender is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Perez's Sea Lavender will grow to be about 18 inches tall at maturity extending to 3 feet tall with the flowers, with a spread of 24 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 18 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. Although it's not a true annual, this plant can be expected to behave as an annual in our climate if left outdoors over the winter, usually needing replacement the following year. As such, gardeners should take into consideration that it will perform differently than it would in its native habitat.

This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America.