# Carolina Sea Lavender (*Limonium carolinianum*) Carolina Sea Lavender is a pretty flower that grows in coastal areas. It has lovely purple blooms that look like tiny clouds, and it loves to soak up the sun by the sea! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Carolina Sea Lavender](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Limonium-nashii-2.jpg&width=800) Photo: Limonium-nashii.JPG : Botsci derivative work: Bff ( talk ), Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Limonium-nashii-2.jpg) ## Appearance The Carolina Sea Lavender has many stiff, branching stems covered in tiny, papery lavender to purple flowers that cluster in airy sprays. Its leaves are thick, leathery, and spoon-shaped, forming a basal rosette at the plant's base. It stands out with its cloud-like purple blooms. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Plumbaginaceae - **Genus:** Limonium ## Interesting facts - Historically, sea lavender was used to create vibrant natural dyes for fabrics and crafts. - Its scientific name, Limonium, comes from a Greek word meaning "meadow", describing its open habitat! - Its tiny seeds can float on water, letting ocean tides carry them to new coasts! - What seem like petals are actually papery outer cups for its tiny true flowers! ## Special abilities - **Salt Survivor:** Carolina Sea Lavender can tolerate salty soil and sea spray, helping it thrive where most plants cannot. - **Long-Lasting Blooms:** It has papery flowers that retain their color even after drying, helping them stay attractive to pollinators longer. - **Coastal Anchor:** This plant grows deep roots, helping to stabilize sandy coastal soils and resist erosion from waves. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-90 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.8 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from its small flowers. - **Pollinates:** [Monarch Butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Visits flowers to drink nectar in coastal areas. - **Eaten by:** [Muskrat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/muskrat) (*Ondatra zibethicus*) — Eats roots and stems of various marsh plants. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Cluster Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Salt Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/salt-tolerant): Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't pick flowers unless you have permission! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Carolina Sea Lavender? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Carolina Sea Lavender? 30-90 cm ### How wide does Carolina Sea Lavender spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Carolina Sea Lavender? 0.3-0.8 cm ### When does Carolina Sea Lavender bloom? Summer ### Is Carolina Sea Lavender edible? Yes ### Is Carolina Sea Lavender toxic? None ### What is Carolina Sea Lavender's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Jekyll Island Club](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jekyll-island-club) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Wesleyan Grove](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wesleyan-grove) — Massachusetts, US · Historic District - [Great Esker Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/great-esker-park) — Massachusetts, US · Trail - [Parc national du Bic](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/parc-national-du-bic) — Québec, CA · National Park [View all places to see Carolina Sea Lavender](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/carolina-sea-lavender) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Carolina Sea Lavender: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/carolina-sea-lavender)