# Limonium cancellatum

Limonium cancellatum, also known as sea lavender, is a beautiful plant that grows near the coast. It has lovely purple flowers that bloom in clusters and can often be found in sandy or salty areas.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Coastal areas
- **Also known as:** Sea Lavender

![Limonium cancellatum](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Limonium_cancellatum_69992411.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Martin Scheuch, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Limonium_cancellatum_69992411.jpg)

## Appearance

The Limonium cancellatum has delicate, wiry stems topped with airy clusters of tiny, papery flowers, often appearing in shades of lavender or purplish-blue. Its broad, spoon-shaped leaves form a rosette at the base, making it distinct among coastal flora.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Caryophyllales
- **Family:** Plumbaginaceae
- **Genus:** Limonium

## Interesting facts

- It's a master of salty seasides, called a halophyte, loving conditions most plants hate!
- Its scientific name, Limonium, comes from a Greek word for meadow, but it prefers the coast!
- Some Limonium species are nicknamed 'Statice', meaning lasting, for their long-lasting flowers!
- The plant's tiny seeds can sometimes float on water, spreading to new salty shores!

## Special abilities

- **Salt Shield:** Limonium cancellatum can tolerate very salty soil by actively removing excess salt through its leaves, helping it thrive where other plants cannot.
- **Water Hoarder:** This plant has adaptations like thick, sometimes leathery leaves that help it store water, making it resilient in dry, coastal conditions.
- **Forever Blooms:** Limonium cancellatum's papery flower calyx retains its vibrant color long after blooming, helping it stand out for longer in its habitat.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 20-70 cm
- **Spread:** 20-50 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.4-0.6 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer to early autumn
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from flowers.
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Buzz-pollinates flowers, aiding reproduction.
- **Pollinates:** [Painted Lady](https://www.snappit.app/explore/painted-lady) (*Vanessa cardui*) — Feeds on nectar, helping to spread pollen.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [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.
- [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.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [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.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult, as some can be prickly or cause allergies.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Limonium cancellatum?

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 Limonium cancellatum?

20-70 cm

### How wide does Limonium cancellatum spread?

20-50 cm

### How big are the flowers on Limonium cancellatum?

0.4-0.6 cm

### When does Limonium cancellatum bloom?

Summer to early autumn

### Is Limonium cancellatum edible?

No

### Is Limonium cancellatum toxic?

None

### What is Limonium cancellatum's lifecycle?

Perennial

## 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*)

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Source: [Limonium cancellatum: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/limonium-cancellatum)