Sea-lavenders and allies
What are they?
The plants on this page are members of the Plumbaginaceae, the leadwort family, which in our region consists of a small number of garden escapes and of native saltmarsh plants. The family is a rather variable one, with most plants having flowers with five petals, sometimes fused into an elongate, tubular base and typically arranged in tightly clustered or openly branched heads.
Where are they found?
Our native species are plants of saltmarshes, while cultivated members of the family may occasionally be found on rough ground, waste places or spreading from nearby gardens.
Identification
A number of the species can be readily identified from the photos here, but the sea-lavenders require a little more attention to the details of the flower spikes and their bracts, as well as the leaves.
Common Sea-lavender Limonium vulgare
Common on saltmarshes in tidal estuaries, often forming extensive colonies and spectacular when flowering en masse. Flowers July to August. Basal leaves have branching (pinnate) veins. Flowers carried in tight spikes, 1-2cm long and with more than four spikelets per centimetre of flowering branch.
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Lax-flowered Sea-lavender Limonium humile
Uncommon in the lower parts of saltmarshes in tidal estuaries. Flowers July to August. Basal leaves have branching (pinnate) veins but are typically narrower than those of Common Sea-lavender. Flowers carried in open, well-branched heads with the flowerhead starting to branch from below half way. Flowers carried in loose spikes, 1-5cm long and with only 2-3 spikelets per centimetre of flowering branch. Flowers typically have pinkish anthers.
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Neuman's Sea-lavender Limonium x neumanii
The hybrid between Common and Lax-flowered Sea-lavender. Uncommon in the lower parts of saltmarshes in tidal estuaries. Flowers July to August. Typically intermediate between the parents and showing intermediate characteristics. Often has flowers at interemdiate density and may have a pink tinge to the anthers.
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Matted Sea-lavender Limonium bellidifolium
Rare, with the entire UK population confined to firmer, sandier places at the higher edge of saltmarsh on the North Norfolk coast. Flowers June to August. Leaves with parallel (not branched) veins. Flowering stems many-branched, with the shorter, lower branches not bearing flowers. Leaves withered by the time of flowering. A low-growing, mat-forming and very twiggy-looking species.
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Rock Sea-lavender Limonium binervosum
Rare in Suffolk but quite frequent in North Norfolk, from Cley-next-the-sea westward to The Wash. Typically confined to firmer, sandier places at the higher edge of saltmarsh. Flowers July to August. Leaves with parallel (not branched) veins. Flowering stems relatively small with flowers densely packed. Leaves not withered by the time of flowering. East Anglian plants are subspecies anglicum, which some taxonomists consider to be better recognised as a full species and therefore an East Anglian endemic.
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Sinuate Statice Limonium sinuatum
Native to the Mediterranean region and commonly planted as a garden and amenity plant, but rarely recorded outside of obvious plantings anywhere in the UK. The first East Anglian record came from a car park in Sheringham in 2022. Flowers July to August. In horticultural varieties, the bracts surrounding the creamy flowers vary in colour from reddish-purple, through various shades of lavender and violet to pink, white and even yellow. Easily told from our native species by its larger size (to 40cm in height), larger flowers, winged flower stems and distinctive leaves. Well-known as a plant grown for the cut flower market.
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Common Thrift Armeria maritima
(Sea Pink) Common in coastal saltmarsh habitats and occasionally on coastal cliffs. Also grown as a garden plant and occasionally found escaping from cultivation. Flowers May to October. Forms a tight, low mound of grass-like leaves, with 'drumstick' flowerheads.
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Creeping Leadwort Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
Introduced from China as a garden ornamental and once recorded in Suffolk as an escape from cultivation. Flowers June to October. A low-growing, herbaceous perennial that spreads to form creeping carpets.
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