Sea Lavender
Colourful cut flower and evergreen
Despite its name, the sea lavender comes in colours other than blue – purple, pink, white, yellow and apricot. The small flowers grow in dense, colourful clusters. Sea lavender is a beautiful cut flower that can also be dried into an everlasting.
Sea lavender
Depending on the variety, sea lavender grows from 20-90 cm high. In warm climates the plant is a perennial. Sea lavender has decorative foliage that forms rosettes around the base of the sturdy stems. Flowering starts in July and continues well into late autumn.
It grows wild in the Mediterranean region so it does well in dry environments. In fact, because sea lavender is a coastal plant, it can be watered with salt water. The succulent leaves of sea lavender are specially designed to handle salt and form small crystals on the underside.
Since the 17th century, the bluebell has been cultivated as a garden plant for its beautiful flowers. In addition, the plant has been recognised as having medicinal properties against dysentery, for example.
Sowing and planting sea lavender
Sea lavender can be sown directly in warm and sheltered locations, but pre-cultivation is the safest method. Soak the seeds for 1-2 days and they will germinate faster. Place the seeds sparsely on the soil surface. Cover with a very thin layer of soil, water and keep moist. Feel free to use a spray bottle or water on the saucer. This way the plants don’t have to stand with their roots soaking wet. Blue creeper grows well at room temperature. Once the first leaves have appeared, blue creeper thrives best in a bright and cool place. After a couple of weeks, the plants will be large enough to handle and can be placed in separate pots.
When the risk of frost is over, it’s time to plant out the blue willow in its final location. Harden off the plants by keeping them outdoors for longer and longer periods over a few days. Use a fibre cloth during the hardening off period to protect against wind, cold and excessive sun. Then bury the plants in the ground with a planting distance of 30-40 cm. Choose a sunny spot with thoroughly fertilised soil. Sea lavender thrives in well-drained, preferably sandy soil and is also nice to grow in a large pot.
Caring for bluebell
Once rooted in a location, the plant tolerates drought well and can usually survive on the water that falls as rain. But in the early days it is important to water the seedlings regularly. As the sea lavender is originally a seaside plant, it can be watered with salt water.
Sea lavender usually do not need any extra nutrition during the season. Remove wilted flowers regularly. This will stimulate the plant to form new flowers instead of spending energy on seeds.
Elegant wildflower in bouquet all year round
Sea lavender can be picked as a cut flower throughout the summer. It has an appealing mix of wildflower and elegance. Sea lavender harvested for fresh bouquets should be picked when the flowers are fully open – otherwise they risk wilting prematurely. Pull the leaves off the stem, put in a vase and enjoy. A hefty bunch of sea lavender will look great on their own. Blue willow is also an excellent filler plant in a mixed bouquet. The stems are sturdy and the flowers are remarkably durable.
If you want to enjoy sea lavender as an evergreen, pick the flowers when they are almost fully open. Hang the bouquets upside down to dry. During drying, the flowers will open up completely. Leave the flowers to dry for about a week. The colours of sea lavender last for several years. The colour of eternelles is best preserved if they are not placed in direct sunlight.
Author: Johanna Damm
Fact-checked by Erik Hoekstra
Last updated 2022-10-14