Limonium perezii - Canary Island Sea Lavender

The Limonium perezii, commonly known as the Canary Island Sea Lavender or Statice, is a clump-forming coastal perennial from the Canary Islands. Large, leathery, dark green paddle-shaped leaves form a basal rosette, above which broad flat sprays of deep violet-purple papery bracts are held on branched stems through much of the year. The flower colour is unusually strong and unusually long-lasting, since the papery bracts persist long after the true flowers have gone. It is used for coastal bed planting, low colour mass, median beds and pedestrian-scale planting. Specifications: Height: 0.4 to 0.6 metres including flower stems Width: 0.4 to 0.6 metres Native to: The Canary Islands, on coastal cliffs and sandy ground Foliage: Large, leathery, dark green paddle-shaped leaves in a basal rosette; evergreen Growth rate: Fast Conditions: Soil: Prefers well-drained sandy or gravelly soils; tolerates poor, alkaline and coastal sands and dislikes waterlogging Light: Full sun Water: Low; drought-tolerant once established Climate: Thrives in Mediterranean, arid and coastal regions; tolerates only light frost Additional Features: Flowers: Broad flat sprays of deep violet-purple papery bracts on branched stems, held over a very long season Uses: Coastal bed planting, low colour mass, median and roundabout beds, pedestrian-scale planting and containers Spacing: Plant 0.4 to 0.5 metres apart for a continuous colour mass Low Maintenance: Remove spent flower stems to prolong display; divide clumps every few years Pest Resistance: Free of significant pest and disease problems where drainage is good Drought Tolerance: Good once established, holding foliage through dry heat with modest irrigation Salt Tolerance: High, growing naturally on exposed coastal cliffs within reach of salt spray Seasonal Appeal: The papery bracts hold their colour for months and persist well after the true flowers have passed The Canary Island Sea Lavender holds strong violet colour for longer than almost anything else in a coastal bed.