Statice Flowers

Botanical Name: Limonium latifolium
Common Names: Sea Lavender
Cultivation: Full sun in well drained soil
Colors: Blue, Violet, Lavender
Bloom Time: July to September
Uses: A useful dried flower offering an array of bright natural colors
Regions: Southwest India, West Indies, Africa, South Florida, Tropical Regions

Cultivation of Statice
Start seeds indoor for about 12 weeks. Place the seeds in a good potting mix but do not cover. Germinate in the dark and keep the soil evenly moist. Transplant outside. Statice grows well in full sun in well drained soil. They prefer sandy soils and are fairly drought tolerant.

Drying of Statice
Pick statice before it fully blooms. The florets continue to open as they dry, thus a stlk partly open will dry fully open. Hang them upside down in a dark room with good air circulation. The flowers generally dry in 7 to 10 days. If it dries so much that it becomes brittle, it can be misted with plain water to bring back its flexibility. The colors will last for years if thef lowers are kept out of direct sunlight.

Uses of Statice
Statice is a useful dried flower offering an array of natuural colors. They are preserved for use in dried arrangements, wreaths, swags, baskets and bouquets. They are used for making homemade potpourris. They have some medicinal uses also. The dried and powdered root is applied to old ulcers or piles.