Sea lavender

Sometimes known as Limonium latifolium. Sea lavender is ideal for gardens on dry, sandy soil, and even windy coastal gardens. Once established it is fairly drought-tolerant, but thrives equally well in better conditions. Each plant forms a neat rosette of large, attractive oval leaves almost flat on the ground, and these often turn bronze-red in the sun. In mid-summer, wiry stems support frothy masses of tiny pale pink or lavender flowers, like gypsophila but stiffer. The flowers dry out gradually on the plants and, though faded, persist into late summer. For drying, they should be cut just before they are fully open.