General Culture:
Tender short-lived perennial or biennial that is winter hardy to USDA Zones 8-10. In St. Louis, it is grown as an annual. Best performance occurs in light, dry to medium moisture, well-drained, sandy loams in full sun. Plants often struggle in the heat and humidity of typically St. Louis summers. Seed may be planted directly in the garden at last spring frost date or started earlier indoors about 6-8 weeks prior to last spring frost date. Plants only produce one long bloom, so deadheading is not necessary.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Native to the Mediterranean region, statice (also commonly called notchleaf status) is noted for producing clusters of papery, funnel-shaped flowers in summer. Flowers appear in panicles of clustered spikelets atop distinctively winged, nearly leafless stems rising to 18” tall from basal rosettes of lyrate-pinnatifid wavy-margined leaves (to 4-6” long). Flower corollas are white and showy calyces are violet-blue (seed strains come in varying shades of violet, lavender, purple, pink, rose, orange, yellow and white). Calyces remain long after the corollas have disappeared. Excellent as a fresh cut flower and for dried arrangements.
Problems:
Crown rot and root rot are occasional problems. Well-drained soils and good air circulation will minimize the onset potential for these diseases.
Uses:
Mixed borders, rock gardens, cut flower gardens. Meadows. Cutting gardens. Good for dried flower arrangements.
© Missouri Botanical
Garden, 2001-2010
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