Statice – Rose

Description

Statice (Limonium sinuatum) is a classic everlasting flower, long prized in the florist trade for its colourful, papery blooms that dry exceptionally well. Native to the Mediterranean and Middle East, it is well adapted to hot, dry, and even coastal conditions, making it a resilient addition to sunny gardens. Plants form a rosette of wavy, lance-shaped leaves at the base and send up branching stems topped with clouds of vibrant blooms in summer and autumn. Flowers come in shades of violet, lavender, pink, apricot, white, and yellow, and retain their brilliance when dried, making them a staple for everlasting bouquets, wreaths, and craft projects. In the garden, statice not only provides long-lasting colour but also attracts bees and butterflies. In New Zealand, it is best treated as an annual due to frost sensitivity, though in very mild climates it may persist as a short-lived perennial.