2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Statice (Latin Limonium) - a light-loving winter-hardy perennial, which is a representative of the Pig family. Other names are kermek, limonium.
Description
Statice is most often a perennial, but sometimes biennials or dwarf shrubs can also be found. Each plant is equipped with rosettes of very dense and rather large basal leaves of an elliptical shape.
The branchy peduncles of the statice are generously crowned with complex spherical, corymbose or paniculate inflorescences, consisting of small flowers collected in spikelets of blue, white, yellow, purple, purple or pink. As a rule, you can admire the flowering of this spectacular plant from July until the very first frosts.
In total, the genus statice unites about three hundred species, and some of them are endowed with the ability to form the so-called tumbleweed.
Where grows
Statitsa is a plant of semi-deserts and steppes of Altai, Central Asia and Europe, it is there that you can most often see it. And the Mediterranean is considered the birthplace of this beauty. By the way, about forty species of statice grow on the territory of the former USSR!
Usage
In culture, statice broadleaf and notched statice are most often grown. This amazing plant looks great in a wide variety of bouquets, both live and dry! The tiny inflorescences of statice become an incredibly elegant addition to any large flowers, thus giving the composition a special charm and completeness! By the way, dry statice invariably retains its bright and rich unmatched color!
And the pleasant weak aroma exuded by statice flowers attracts various insects, especially butterflies, to the gardens. That is why statice is very willingly used in the creation of so-called "butterfly gardens" along with thyme, echinacea and buddlea.
The statice will also look great in the form of separate bushes on the lawns - its spectacular openwork "balls" simply cannot but attract attention! An inert layer of gravel or pebbles will also be an excellent background for the statice. Beds, flower beds or rocky compositions - the statice will look amazing everywhere!
The roots of the statice contain tannins, due to which many species of this plant have long been used also for tanning leather. In addition, black, pink, green and yellow paints are extracted from some species of statice, which are subsequently actively used in carpet and leather industries.
The statistic has found its application in folk medicine, however, for these purposes, the statistic of Gmelin is mainly used.
Growing and caring
It will grow best in sunny areas with well-drained rocky or sandy soils. However, this plant also tolerates light salinity of the soil very well. Lighting should be sufficiently intense, and watering should be regular, but at the same time moderate. It is important not to forget that the statice does not tolerate stagnation of water or waterlogging of soils. In general, this beauty is quite drought-resistant, unpretentious and winter-hardy, that is, it can winter without shelter.
The statice is usually propagated by sowing seeds to permanent places before winter, while the first flowering of seedlings can be observed only in the second or even in the third year. If necessary, young (under three years of age) plants are allowed to be transplanted, trying to maintain a distance of thirty or even forty centimeters between them.
The statice is resistant to diseases and pests, so in general you don't have to worry too much about it.
