General Description/History

Quite a distinctive flower, statice have several (5 to 10) brush-like flowers arranged in a row along diagonal branches. Flowers are typically purple to pink or blue, but may be found in white, while stems are flattened. The purple or pink colour comes from bracts that surround the white flowers. In some pink-apricot forms the flowers are yellow. Some bunches will have the white flowers peeking out of the coloured bracts which makes a most attractive display.

Statice is commonly used as a filler, and is noted for its blue-purple colour. It can make a very good dried flower – simply hang bunches upside down in a dry, well-ventilated area.

Statice are mostly grown under cover in the cooler areas near Melbourne, Sydney, in Tasmania and in SA and WA. In spring and summer it is also grown in the field.

Types: Statice, Rat’s Tails.

Language: ‘success’

What to look for

• Most of the flowers are open;
• Avoid bunches with slimy stems and a strong sulphur smell.

Flower Care

1. Keep cool whenever possible.
2. Split bunches and strip leaves (if any) from the lower half of each stem.
3. Wash each stem thoroughly.
4. Recut at least 2 cm off each stem with sharp secateurs and place in water immediately.
5. Preservative is essential – this will help prevent growth of bacteria and slime.
6. Replace water every day.

Botanical Name: Limonium sinuatum, L. suworowii

Common Names: English Statice, Rat

Stem Length: 30 to 70 cm

Country of Origin: Europe

Available Colours: Blue, Pink, Purple, White, Yellow

Season: Summer,Autumn,Winter,Spring

Availability: January,February,March,April,May,June,July,August,September,October,November,Decemeber