Limonium perezii
Canarian sea lavender
(c) Andrea Grover, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Plumbaginaceae · Type: Subshrub · Not Native
Limonium perezii (Canarian sea lavender) is a non-native California subshrub in the Plumbaginaceae family, recognized by large round leaves with ciliate margins, winged inflorescence, large hairy calyx.
Canarian sea lavender is a naturalized perennial found in southwestern California coastal areas including disturbed coastal zones, cliffs, sand dunes, and roadsides at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from March to September, this plant produces white flowers with blue-purple calyces in small clustered arrangements. Growing with erect stems 15 to 45 centimeters tall, it forms compact clusters at branch tips. Its distinctive leaves are round to wide-ovate, 4 to 15 centimeters long, with ciliate margins featuring simple to three-branched hairs and a nearly truncate base. The leaf petioles are notably longer than the leaf blades, creating an unusual structural profile.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; large round leaves with ciliate margins, winged inflorescence, large hairy calyx
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed coastal areas, cliffs, sand dunes, roadsides
Elevation: < 100 m
Outside California: native to Canary Islands
Bloom period
Limonium perezii blooms Mar-Sep.
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 perezii native to California?
No. Limonium perezii is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Limonium perezii bloom?
Limonium perezii blooms Mar-Sep.
What plant family does Limonium perezii belong to?
Limonium perezii is in the Plumbaginaceae family, genus Limonium.
What habitat does Limonium perezii grow in?
Limonium perezii grows in Disturbed coastal areas, cliffs, sand dunes, roadsides.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.