Sea Lavender - Argusia gnaphalodes

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Family - Boraginaceae

Natural Habitat - Coastal scrub, Dunes

Planting Zones - 10,11

Description - Sea Lavender ( also known as Sea Rosemary ) is an endangered Florida native perennial shrub to 2 - 5 feet tall with an equal or greater spread and rounded crown.

Leaves are pubescent with a fleshy, succulent appearance & are linear to slightly spatulate, greenish-gray in color. Sea Lavender flowers year round, the flowers emerge on a one sided spike & are white with a green throat, changing to a pinkish lavender color as they age. Fruit is a single seeded berry or drupe with a buoyant, corky outer layer which allows for widespread dispersal by water.

Landscape Use - Sea Lavender or Sea Rosemary can be used as a ground cover, border plant or in groupings.

Culture - Propagation is by seed or cuttings. Full sun on fast draining, sandy, acidic to alkaline soils. Sea Lavender is salt and drought tolerant, adapted to the very nutrient poor, dry sandy soils of the coastal strand. The most common problem encountered with inland cultivation is root rot from too much water.

Synonyms - Tournefortia gnaphalodes, Malotonia gnaphalodes