Statice is a beautiful, long-lasting flower that is perfect for cut flower arrangements and dried floral crafts. Though often grown as an annual, statice is actually a short-lived perennial in warmer climates. With its colorful blooms and unique, paper-like texture, statice adds interest and visual appeal to any garden.
Growing statice from seed is quite easy if you follow some simple tips. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through how to successfully grow statice from seed indoors or outside, provide statice plant care tips, and give guidance on harvesting statice for stunning fresh cut or dried flowers
Getting to Know Statice
Before diving into planting, let’s go over some key facts about statice:
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Botanical name Statice goes by the botanical name Limonium sinuatum, It’s a member of the plumbago family
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Common names: Statice is also referred to as annual statice, sea lavender, marsh rosemary, and wavyleaf sea lavender.
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Plant description: Statice starts as a basal rosette with unique, slightly wavy leaves. Flowering stems emerge later in the season topped with colorful bracts (modified leaves) surrounding tiny white blooms. The true flowers are the small white blooms, while the colorful bracts are technically the calyxes.
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Height: Statice grows 1-2 feet tall.
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Ideal conditions: Statice thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It’s drought tolerant once established.
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Bloom time: Early summer to fall.
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Uses: Excellent for cut flowers and drying. Statice adds height, texture, and color to arrangements.
Starting Statice Seeds Indoors
Statice can be direct sown outside in spring after the last frost, but starting seeds indoors provides a head start on the growing season.
When to start seeds: Sow statice seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your area’s last expected spring frost.
Seed starting process:
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Fill seed starting containers with moist seed starting mix. Cell packs, flats, and pots all work well.
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Plant 1-2 seeds in each cell, 1/4 inch deep.
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Maintain warm (70°F) soil temperature and keep moist until germination.
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Expect seeds to germinate in 5-14 days.
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Move under grow lights after germination.
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Harden off seedlings for 7-10 days before transplanting outdoors after all danger of frost.
Direct Sowing Statice Outdoors
If you’d rather not start seeds indoors, statice can be directly sown outside.
When to direct sow: Plant statice seeds directly in the garden 2-4 weeks before your area’s last spring frost date.
How to direct sow:
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Prepare a planting bed in full sun with loose, weed-free, well-drained soil. Enrich with compost if desired.
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Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and 6 inches apart in rows or small groups.
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Keep soil moist until seedlings emerge in 10-20 days.
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Thin seedlings to 12 inches apart.
Caring for Statice Plants
Statice care is easy once plants are established. Here are a few tips:
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Water plants 1-2 inches per week. Allow soil to dry slightly between waterings.
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Fertilize occasionally with a balanced flower fertilizer.
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Remove spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming.
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watch for aphids and treat promptly to prevent spreading.
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In zones 8-10, established plants may overwinter as perennials. Elsewhere, statice will die after first frost.
Harvesting Statice Flowers
One of the best parts of growing statice is having beautiful flowers for arrangements and crafts. Follow these tips for harvesting statice:
For fresh cut flowers:
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Cut stems when flowers are fully open and vividly colored.
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Harvest in the morning for best hydration.
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Remove leaves from lower half of stems.
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Place in water immediately; change water every 2-3 days. Statice lasts up to 2 weeks in arrangements.
For dried flowers:
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Cut stems when flowers are mature.
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Gather 5-10 stems together and secure with rubber band or string.
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Hang bundles upside down in a warm, dry area out of direct sunlight.
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Let dry for 2-3 weeks until crisp.
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Use dried statice in arrangements or craft projects.
Enjoying Statice All Season Long
With its low maintenance nature and vibrant, lasting blooms, statice is sure to be a garden favorite. Not only is it beautiful in the landscape, but statice flowers provide season-long cut flowers and everlasting dried botanicals. Just be sure to save some seeds at the end of the season for next year’s statice garden!
Details Plant type: annual Height: 24 to 32 in Site: full sun Days to maturity: 110-120 Plant spacing: 9 in Pinch: not necessary
Start seed indoors in trays 6 weeks before last frost; transplant out after all danger of frost has passed. Seed requires light to germinate, so do not cover.
Harvesting/Vase Life Harvest when all flowers on a stem have appeared. If picked too soon, stems will wilt. Expect a vase life of 7 to 10 days. To dry, hang upside down in a warm, dark place for 4 to 6 weeks.
One of the best flowers for drying, statice is also great used fresh. Easy to grow and great for beginners, this hardworking mix will churn out buckets of papery blooms all summer long. This beautiful mix of cool pastel tones includes violet, lavender, blush, rose, and mauve and is a must-grow.
How To Grow Statice | Easy To Grow From Seed
FAQ
Is statice easy to grow?
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Sunlight:Statice thrives in full sun (6-8 hours of sunlight per day).
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Soil:It prefers well-drained soil, whether sandy or loamy, and tolerates a range of soil types.
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Watering:Once established, statice is drought-tolerant and needs minimal watering, only when the soil is dry about 10cm below the surface.
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Temperature:It thrives in warm summers and can tolerate humidity, but is sensitive to frost.
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Fertilizer:If the soil is poor, a high-potassium fertilizer or one formulated for flowering plants can be beneficial.
How long does it take statice to germinate?
Keep soil moist but never wet or dry. Seeds should germinate in around 7-14 days at a soil temperature of 22-24°C.
How to plant statice seeds indoors?
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Timing:Start statice seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last expected frost.
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Seed Starting Mix:Use a good quality seed-starting mix and ensure the soil is moist but not soggy.
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Sowing:Sow the seeds on the surface of the soil, as they need light to germinate, and lightly press them in.
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Light:Provide bright, indirect light or grow lights, as statice seeds need light to germinate.
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Temperature:Maintain a temperature of 65-70°F (18-21°C) for optimal germination.
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Watering:Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, as statice seeds are sensitive to overwatering.
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Thinning:Once the seedlings have a few sets of leaves, thin them to one seedling per cell or pot.
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Transplanting:Once the danger of frost has passed and the seedlings are strong, harden them off by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions before transplanting them into their final location.
Can you grow statice from a cutting?
How to grow statice from cuttings. The easiest way to create new sea lavender plants is to divide larger old ones. Dig the plant up in late winter, making sure you get plenty of the roots. Use a sharp knife or secateurs to cut it into parts, again ensuring that each part has plenty of roots attached.
How long does it take for Statice seeds to germinate?
Providing bottom heat via the use of heat mats has been a game changer for seed starting. The seeds are placed on the heat mat until they are at least sixty percent germinated. The statice seeds germinate quite nicely with the bottom heat. Germination of the seeds usually occurs within twenty-one to thirty days.
How do you grow Statice?
But best of all, it is an annual that is easy to grow and maintain. Seeds for statice can be started indoors several weeks before the last frost of the year. Start seeds indoors in trays with potting soil. Spread the seed over the soil, and cover with a thin layer of vermiculite or peat.
How do you start a Statice plant?
Statice can be sown directly in the garden or started indoors and transplanted. I prefer starting the seeds indoors, as this gives the plants a head start on growth. If starting indoors, sow statice seeds 6-8 weeks before your last expected frost date. Use a seed starting mix and sow the tiny seeds just 1/8” deep.
How do you plant Statice seeds?
Planting: Sow the seeds directly into the soil or start them indoors in small containers. In regions with short growing seasons, starting them indoors allows for an earlier start to the plant growth. When directly in the soil, the best time to plant statice seeds is in the spring, after the last frost date.
Can Statice grow from seed?
Statice, also known as Limonium, is a versatile and attractive plant. Its long-lasting blooms make it a favorite for dried flower arrangements. This section will introduce you to the wonders of growing statice from seed to blooms. Statice offers many benefits. It is easy to grow and maintain. The plant thrives in various soil types and climates.
When should I plant Statice seeds?
Plant statice seeds in groups of three. Start statice indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your last frost in peat pots that can be planted directly in the garden. This plant is sensitive to root disturbance. If you’d like to sow them outdoors, wait until the soil is workable, and sow groups of three seeds two to four week after your last frost.