On salt-marshes and seashores this pretty, papery wildflower blooms from July to September. Its flowers are a lilac-lavender colour, each 6-7mm long, in lax clusters, the five-petalled flowers being loosely scattered along the stalks. The untoothed leaves are narrow and long stalked. The seed heads remain on the plant throughout winter and are visited by hungry finches. It is a native plant belonging to the family Plumbaginaceae. There are many variations on this and Limonium binoversum. The differences between these two plants are very subtle and I would have no problem whatsoever if anyone told me that this identification was incorrect. Despite its name, it bears no relation to the Lavender or Lavandula family.
I first found this plant on the Kenmare Estuary, Co Kerry in 1978 and the photographs were taken at Saltmills, Co Wexford in 2005 and Bishop's Quarter, Co Clare in 2006.
If you are satisfied you have correctly identified this plant, please submit your sighting to the National Biodiversity Data Centre
