Limonium
Also known as Sea Lavender, Statice, or Marsh-rosemary
As a perennial, Caspia is known by its botanical name of Limonium Bellidfolium. Its common names include Misty and Statice. The name is derived from the Greek word, leimon, which means meadow, a place where these are commonly found. It is described as having soft and feather-like plumes of lilac and baby flue flowers. The flowers can also be dyed various colors during the drying phase, including orchid, dusty rose, aquamarine and a deep blue. These are most often used as dried flowers as filler in dried floral arrangements as well as in wreaths. Caspia also give off a very distinct, rather musky fragrance. This fragrance is not considered very appealing so it is best not to use these in arrangements that will be found in confined spaces. Typically, they have leafless, but winged, stems as well as inflorescence branches that are green. They also have terminal, one-sided spikelets and numerous arrays of small flowers. Sometimes, Caspia are actually confused with similar looking cultivars like Gypsophila or Trachelium, but they are not sensitive to ethylene like these other cultivars.
There are many species that are cultivated, including annual statice, as well as a number of hybrids found all over the world. However, they originated in Europe and Asia. Now, the countries most often exporting them to cut florist industries around the world include Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Growing Recommendations - Limonium
Caspia Limonium is propagated by seed and can grow up to 18 inches. Be prepared to not get a harvest the first year they are grown as it takes some time to get rooted and settled. For cultivating these flowers, they require full sun as well as very well drained soil. They are ready to harvest when their flowers just begin to open. Upon harvesting, they should be placed upside down to dry in a dark, airy, and open location. Once planted and managed correctly, a crop can be cultivated for up to give years, offering a yield of regular harvests.
Once dried, they are often sold in bunches by various colors through florists as well as craft shops for use in dried floral arrangements, wreaths, and other décor items. They are available year round and can last in a vase in fresh form for seven to fourteen days. It is important to note that these can easily become vulnerable to mildew so they should be kept in an area with circulating air and, if placed in water, they should have the water regularly replaced to keep them fresh. Of course, if they are dried, this is not necessary.
Photos of Limonium
