Limonium duriusculum
European sea lavender
(c) Bryce Johnson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Plumbaginaceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Limonium duriusculum (European sea lavender) is a non-native California perennial in the Plumbaginaceae family, recognized by small leaves, pale pink flowers, curved evenly-distributed clusters.
European sea lavender is a naturalized perennial found in southern California coastal areas, including the Verdugo Mountains and Peninsular Ranges in coastal salt marshes, coastal scrub, and riparian areas at elevations below 445 meters. Flowering from September to June, this plant produces pale pink flowers in small, curved clusters distributed along branch tips. Growing with an erect habit reaching 20 to 30 centimeters tall, it develops distinctive basal leaves that are oblanceolate to spoon-shaped, 1 to 4 centimeters long and 5 to 9 millimeters wide with obtuse tips. Its leaves cluster at the base of the plant, creating a compact rosette with pale green to grayish foliage. The small flowers have a delicate calyx approximately 5.5 to 6 millimeters long, with a spreading limb that persists after flowering.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; small leaves, pale pink flowers, curved evenly-distributed clusters
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal salt marsh, coastal scrub, riparian scrub, disturbed areas
Elevation: < 445 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Yolo, Alameda, Marin, Santa Barbara
Outside California: native to western Mediterranean
Bloom period
Limonium duriusculum blooms Sep-Jun.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Verbena: Limonium has spoon-shaped basal leaves; Verbena has toothed leaves on flowering stems.; vs Rumex: Limonium has showy pink/lavender flowers in sprays; Rumex has tiny green/brown flowers.; vs Eriogonum: Limonium has spoon-shaped leaves and papery flowers; Eriogonum often has woolly leaves.; vs Tournefortia: Limonium has branching sprays; Tournefortia has coiled, scorpion-tail flower clusters.; vs Anemopsis: Limonium has airy flower sprays; Anemopsis has cone-like spike with white bracts below.
Frequently asked questions
Is Limonium duriusculum native to California?
No. Limonium duriusculum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Limonium duriusculum bloom?
Limonium duriusculum blooms Sep-Jun.
Where in California does Limonium duriusculum grow?
Limonium duriusculum occurs in San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Yolo, Alameda and other counties, at elevations of < 445 m.
What plant family does Limonium duriusculum belong to?
Limonium duriusculum is in the Plumbaginaceae family, genus Limonium.
Is Limonium duriusculum invasive in California?
Limonium duriusculum is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.