California Dreamin’
By Jason Edmonds
Statice Sinuata is a large group of plants in the genus Limonium, all of which have distinctive spiky flowers and simple or lobed leaves. Representatives of the statice family can be found growing all over the world in sizes ranging from one foot (30 centimeters) tall to large bushes. In general, statice thrives in sandy soil and also tolerates salt marshes, so it is often found on shorelines, islands, and in other locations which are too severe for most plants to thrive in. For this reason, it is widely cultivated in some regions to provide accent color, as well as a popular ingredient for bouquets. In Europe Statice is often considered the quintessential dried flower. When Statice is in bloom it has a delicate papery outer layer and a soft set of inner petals. The inner petals drop out, leaving the outer ones behind, and often drying naturally on the stem. Most of the Statice that is sold in the flower auctions of Holland is grown in Kenya where it seems certain color strains of this truly beautiful flower that are more difficult to grow thrive naturally. California has seen an increase of statice growers and the West Coast can now boast that it has some of the best tissue culture statice around.
