Annual statice blooms reliably to fill your garden and vases or to be featured in dried flower arrangements.
The blooms rise above stiff stems with three wings, each featuring a flower cluster.
These plants make an excellent choice forcut flowersanddried arrangements.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Where to Plant Annual Statice
Grow annual statice in a sunny spot in well-draining soil.
You cansow the seed directlyin the ground for a natural effect.
Lightly rake the soil, scatter seeds, and lightly cover with soil.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Keep the bed moist (not wet) until seeds germinate.
To set out transplants after the last frost, dig a hole slightly larger than your seedlings pot.
Gently remove the plant and set it in the hole.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Backfill with soil, tamping it down to remove air pockets and water deeply.
Even after the the delicate white blossoms inside fade, the showy calyces persist.
Harvest when flowers are fully opened and color is most vivid.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Remove extended leaf-like projections along the statice stem at harvest for a longer vase life.
They tolerate a bit of shade, but the plant will likely flop and need support.
Soil and Water
Annual statice performs best with little interference.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
It preferswell-drained, sandy loam.
(It rots in overly wet soil.)
Give young seedlings a good drink every few days.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Once plants hit their stride, they’ll fare well with a weekly watering.
Annual statice is drought-tolerant once established.
Temperature and Humidity
Annual statice thrives in warm summers.
While it prefers the dry air of its native range, statice tolerates humidity.
Pruning
Harvest the flowers frequently for bouquets or to drythis is a cut-and-come-again bloomer.
If you prefer to enjoy the flowers in the garden,deadhead spent bloomsfor continued flowering.
Potting and Repotting Annual Statice
Annual statice makes agood container plant.
Select a pot with large drainage holes and use well-draining potting soil.
Terra-cotta is an ideal pot material as it wicks away excess moisture to help avoid crown or root rot.
Keep in mind that potted plants, unlike plants in the landscape, require more frequent watering and fertilization.
If you’re growing statice as an annual, simply remove and discard the plant after frost.
Insulate the pot when colder weather arrives, or move it to a protected location.
Repot the plant when it outgrows its container into a pot one size larger and filled withfresh potting mix.
Statice is susceptible to powdery mildrew, crown rot, and root rot.
Prevent these issues by planting annual staticein well-drained soilswhere they get good air circulation.
Place the seeds in pots of moistened seed-starting mix.
Allow flower heads to fully mature and dry before releasing their seeds into a container.
Once the seeds begin to sprout, move them to a warm, bright location to continue growing.
Seedlings can be transplanted outdoors once soil temperatures are reliably above 65F.
‘Forever Gold’ Statice
Limonium’Forever Gold' bears rich yellow flowers on 2-foot-tall plants.
Like most statice, this variety holds its color well when dried.
Annual Statice Companion Plants
Globe Amaranth
Annualglobe amaranthis an all-time flower-gardening favorite.
Plant globe amaranth, then step back to watch it thrive and add continual beauty until frost.
It’s great in beds, borders, and containers.
Plant established seedlings outdoors in spring after all danger of frost has passed.
It tolerates a variety of soils and moisture levels.
It isn’t fussy about fertilizer, but be careful not to overfertilize.
Lavender
Lavenderfills the early-summer garden with sensory delights: beautiful purplish blooms and delightful fragrance.
Lavender varieties abound: The darker the flower, the more intense the aromaand the flavor in cooking.
Raised beds and gravel mulch enhance drainage and increase heat around roots.
After flowering, shear plants to induce bushiness and subsequent bloom.
Zones 5-9
Strawflower
Enjoy flowers into fall by growingthis brightly colored charmerthat dries right on the plant.
Use it in dried flower arrangements, wreaths, and even homemade potpourri.
This easy-to-grow, sun-loving annual comes from Australia and is a great pick for hot, dry sites.
Plant it outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.
It is in the plumbago family, in the genusLimonium, which includes about 600 flowering species.
Statice is a non-toxic plant that is safe for humans and pets.
University of California Pest Management Program.
