Carolina Sea Lavender Limonium carolinianum
- Phonetic Spelling
- lih-MOH-nee-um ka-ro-lin-ee-AY-num
- Description
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Carolina Sea Lavender is a native showy perennial in late summer of brackish or salt marshes and flats, coastal beaches, marshes, intertidal, subtidal or the open ocean of easter North America. It has been used for making wreaths but this practice can deplete populations of this slow-growing plant. The showy flowers are blue to purple with white bracts that often last longer than the flower. It is very wet soil and salt tolerant.
This plant grows in clay, loam or sandy tidal marshes in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soils.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Limonium
- Species:
- carolinianum
- Family:
- Plumbaginaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used in making wreaths. The roots contain tannin and are powerfully astringent. A decoction of the root has long been used as a popular domestic remedy for diarrhea, dysentery, etc and is also used to treat sore mouths, cankers, etc. The dried and powdered root is applied to old ulcers or piles.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Canada, east coast of U.S.A., Mexico
- Distribution:
- AL , CT , DE , FL , GA , LA , MA , MD , ME , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , RI , SC , TX , VA Canada: NB , NL , NS , PE , QC
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are very small, purple with white sepals, sepals may remain after the flower is gone. Blooms in clusters July to Aug.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are simple, basal with entire margins. Leaves ovate, 7-8 inches long, green, leathery, hairy, forming a rosette at the bottom of the main stem.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The stem is erect, green to redish, stiff, highly branched with alternating secondary stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Pond
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Salt
- Wet Soil
