On coastal cliffs, rocks and dense shingle, Rock Sea-lavender braves the onshore sea-winds, showing a great display of design and colour from July to September. Appearing to have stems which zig-zag, this plant is well-branched from low down as well as further up. It bears small clusters of lilac-coloured flowers (6 – 7 mm) in spikes which hold the flowers in an upturned position on erect, stiff stems. The narrow, evergreen, spoon-shaped leaves have one to three veins. A perennial which reaches about 30 cm high, Rock Sea-lavender is a native species and it belongs to the Plumbaginaceae family.
I first recorded and photographed this plant in 2009 on the cliffs around Killiiney Bay, Co Dublin.
If you are satisfied you have correctly identified this plant, please submit your sighting to the National Biodiversity Data Centre
