I’M A WEED

Sea Lavender Statice

Sea Lavender / Statice

Limonium spp.

Perennial herbs with leaves in a basal rosette and small flowers held on stiff stems in a one-sided flower head. L. companyonis (blue mist) has cylindrical, unwinged stems and tiny purple flowers in loose spreading spikelets. It has a rosette of spoon-shaped leaves about 5 cm long and flowers in early summer. L. lobatum (winged sea lavender) is a short-lived perennial with a rosette of lobed leaves from 5-30 cm long. When present, the stem leaves are linear and continue down the stems forming broad wings.

Flowers in spring, with white petals surrounded by blue bracts. L. sinuatum (statice) grows to 0.5 m, is covered with stiff hairs and has a rosette of lobed basal leaves. Stem leaves are linear, and continue down the stem as wings, and the flower stalks are also winged. The small flowers can be very colourful, as the calyx may be white, yellow, purple or blue, and petals are white or yellow. It flowers in early summer. Widespread on wasteland and roadsides especially on the margins of saline soils.

Threat / Problem
• Colonise disturbed sandy areas, L. companyonis invades intertidal zone displacing samphire.

Spread
• Reproduces from seed, spread by wind, water and soil movement.

Control
• Manually remove isolated plants, ensuring removal of tap root, bag and dispose of by deep burial.
• Spot spray larger infestations.

Sea Lavender Statice

GROW ME INSTEAD

Shore Westringia

Shore Westringia

Westringia dampieri

Dense shrub 0.3-1.3 m high with oblong to linear leaves in whorls of 3 or 4, 1-2.5 cm long
by 0.1-0.3 cm wide. Flowers are small, 0.8-1.2 cm long, white with spots or palepurple,
with unequal spreading lobes from June to January.

Grows in coastal dunes or on limestone clifftops along the West Coast. Can be propagated from
cuttings. Can be pruned into a hedge.