Limonium are known as sea lavender—except plants grow perfectly well hundreds of miles from the sea, and they are not in any way related to lavender! You may also know Limonium by its other common names of marsh rosemary or statice. These are tough, drought-tolerant plants for sunny areas.

Wiry stems carry simple grey-green leaves, with branched sprays of papery flowers. Depending on variety, the blooms of Limonium come in shades of white, blue, lilac and yellow. In fact, the colourful part of the flower is actually the calyx. This remains on the plant after the true flowers have fallen, which gives rise to yet another common name—that of everlasting flower. This makes Limonium popular with arrangers, as the colour keeps well, even after the flowers have been dried.

There are around 600 different types of Limonium, and they nearly all grow best in full sun. However, any soil will do, as long as it does not become waterlogged.