Growli
Let's go

Plant care

Wide-Leaved Sea Lavender (Broad-leaved statice) care

Limonium latifolium

Also called Wide-leaved sea lavender, Broad-leaved statice, Sea lavender.

RHS H7USDA 3-9Pet-safeIndoor 50–75 cm tall and 50–60 cm wide in flower.

Watering rhythm

2-3weeks

Every 2–3 weeks when established

Jump to schedule→Get smart reminders in the app

Light

Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)

Soil

Sandy or stony, well-drained

Humidity

Low to moderate (30–55%)

Temp

-25°C to 35°C

Pet safety

Pet-safe

Mature size

50–75 cm tall and 50–60 cm wide in flower.

Care at a glance

Light

Wide-Leaved Sea Lavender needs sun on the leaves, not just bright ambient room light. Needs a position in full sun all day; the wiry stems become lax and flowering is reduced significantly in partial shade. A south or west-facing windowsill in the northern hemisphere is the default; anywhere else, expect the plant to stretch and pale out within a season.

Watering

Water wide-leaved sea lavender every 2–3 weeks when established. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Drought-tolerant once settled in; water deeply at the base but allow the soil to dry between waterings. Avoid overhead irrigation, which encourages fungal leaf spots.

Soil and pot

Wide-Leaved Sea Lavender grows best in sandy or stony, well-drained. Performs best in poor, sandy, neutral to alkaline soil; thrives on dry, stony sites and tolerates salt-laden coastal conditions. Amend heavy soil generously with grit before planting. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Wide-Leaved Sea Lavender sits happiest at around Low to moderate (30–55%) humidity and -25°C to 35°C (-13°F to 95°F). Naturally suited to open, breezy habitats; tolerates coastal salt winds and low humidity without issue. Excess humidity with poor air circulation can encourage mildew. If you keep the room above year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed wide-leaved sea lavender sparingly. A light dressing of balanced granular fertiliser in spring is sufficient; avoid high-nitrogen feeds that produce weak, floppy growth. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on wide-leaved sea lavender in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Transplant failure — The long taproot is highly sensitive to disturbance; plants moved after establishment frequently fail to re-establish. Choose the final position carefully and avoid transplanting unless absolutely necessary.
  • Leaf spots (fungal) — Dark or pale spots on foliage caused by Cercospora or similar fungi in humid or wet summers; improve air circulation and avoid overhead watering. Remove badly affected leaves promptly.

Propagation

Easiest from seed sown at 15–18°C in early spring. Root cuttings in late winter are reliable. Mature clumps can be divided with care in spring, though the taproot makes division difficult. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Wide-Leaved Sea Lavender is pet-safe. Limonium (Limonium sp.) is listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA. Mild stomach upset is possible if large quantities are eaten. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Wide-Leaved Sea Lavender care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Limonium latifolium?

Limonium latifolium is most commonly called Wide-Leaved Sea Lavender, but it is also known as Wide-leaved sea lavender, Broad-leaved statice, Sea lavender. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Wide-Leaved Sea Lavender apply identically to anything sold as Broad-leaved statice.

How much light does wide-leaved sea lavender need?

Wide-Leaved Sea Lavender grows best in direct sun (at least 4-6 hours). Needs a position in full sun all day; the wiry stems become lax and flowering is reduced significantly in partial shade.

How often should I water wide-leaved sea lavender?

Water wide-leaved sea lavender every 2–3 weeks when established. Drought-tolerant once settled in; water deeply at the base but allow the soil to dry between waterings. Avoid overhead irrigation, which encourages fungal leaf spots. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is wide-leaved sea lavender toxic to cats and dogs?

Wide-Leaved Sea Lavender is pet-safe. Limonium (Limonium sp.) is listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA. Mild stomach upset is possible if large quantities are eaten.

What USDA hardiness zone does wide-leaved sea lavender grow in?

Wide-Leaved Sea Lavender is rated for USDA zone 3-9 and RHS hardiness H7. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Wide-Leaved Sea Lavender deep-dive guides

Every aspect of wide-leaved sea lavender care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Wide-Leaved Sea Lavender qualifies for 9 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Wide-Leaved Sea Lavender is also known as Wide-leaved sea lavender, Broad-leaved statice, and Sea lavender.