Limonium platyphyllum (15/08/15, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun
Soil: Moist, well drained
Flowering period: Summer
Eventual Height: 1m
Eventual Spread: 50cm
Hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Family: Plumbaginaceae
Limonium platyphyllum is a herbaceous perennial with a clump forming habit. Its dark green leaves are ovate and leathery with entire/ sinuate margins, emerging in a neat rosette. Its blue/ pink hermaphrodite flowers are tubular and borne in loose panicles. Its fruit is a small bristly capsule containing a single seed.
Limonium platyphyllum Flower (15/08/15, Kew Gardens, London)
Limonium platyphyllum commonly known as Sea Lavender, German Statice or Broad Leaved Statice is native to southeastern and central Europe. In its native habitat it grows in exposed coastal locations. Limonium platyphyllum is synonymous with Limonium latifolium.
The etymological root of the binomial name Limonium is from the Greek limne meaning ‘a marsh’ or ‘plants growing in a salt marsh’. Platyphyllum is from the Greek meaning ‘wide’ or ‘broad leaved’ .
The landscape architect may find Limonium platyphyllum useful as a late flowering ground cover plant. This plant is drought tolerant once established.
Limonium platyphyllum Leaf (15/08/15, Kew Gardens, London)
Ecologically Limonium platyphyllum flowers are attractive to pollinating insects, including butterflies.
Limonium platyphyllum prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soil. It tolerates most pH of soil. It tolerates maritime conditions
Limonium platyphyllum requires little maintenance.
Landscape Architecture
