Statice
Limonium sinuatum
flowerStatice is the classic dried-flower annual - 18 to 30 in. winged stems topped with airy clusters of papery 1/4 in. blooms in saturated violet, blue, white, yellow, pink, apricot, and rose. A short-lived perennial grown as an annual, it tolerates heat, drought, poor soil, and salt spray, and the flowers hold their color for years dried, making it indispensable for wreaths, bouquets, and confetti.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 5 days
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Bloom
~90 days
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Difficulty
easy
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Lifecycle
annual
One season, then done
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Spacing
12 in. apart
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Planting Depth
Surface-sow seed (needs light)
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Soil pH
6.0-7.5
Growing Details
Soil Type
Sandy, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 2 – 10
Grown as an annual — this range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
Light feed at planting only
Fertilizer
Compost or balanced; low needs
🌱 Growing Guide
Start statice indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost at 70 to 75F; press seed onto the surface, since it needs light to germinate. Transplant after the last frost into full sun and sandy, very well-drained soil; statice resents heavy or wet soil and is drought-tolerant once established. Space plants 12 in. apart. Use drip irrigation or water at the base; overhead watering causes the crowns to rot. Statice blooms steadily from midsummer through frost and self-seeds politely.
🌼 Have a different variety?Cultivars of the same species usually share the same basic care — they differ mainly in flower color, height, and bloom form, not in how you grow them. So this guide still applies even if your exact variety isn't the one shown.
Planting Calendar
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Start seeds indoors
Feb 18
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Transplant outdoors
Apr 15
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Projected first bloom
Jul 14
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Globe Amaranth — Companion in the dried-flower bed - both papery everlastings with matching needs
- Zinnia — Heat-loving cut-flower partner with complementary form and color
- Salvia — Nectar source for the bees and butterflies that also visit statice
- Yarrow — Both drought-tolerant; yarrow draws hoverflies that prey on aphids
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
🌸 Blooms & cutting
Cut statice when the colorful papery calyx is fully open and the tiny white true flowers in the center have just appeared - this is peak color. Cut deeply, strip lower leaves, and use fresh in cool water (vase life 7 to 10 days) or hang upside down in small bundles in a warm, dry, dark spot for 2 to 3 weeks to dry. Dried statice holds color indefinitely out of direct sunlight.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
Statice feeds bees and butterflies across a long bloom window, particularly the smaller native bees that work the tiny true flowers inside the showy papery calyx. As one of the very best dried flowers in the trade, it has cottage-industry value beyond the pollinator garden. Note: statice is not an edible plant - all parts are bitter and inedible.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.