Andalucia Life Fauna and Flora, Flowers of Andalucia Southern Spain

June 2005, Limoniastrum, Limoniastrum monopetalum

With a height of up to 2 metres and with small greygreen leaves, the Limoniastrum is a 'tidy' shrub between September and May. From May to August it is smothered in flowers that vary in colour from pinkish to bluish lilac. It grows in salt marshes and on sea walls. This is another example of a native Mediterranean shrub that has been taken to the UK where it is sold as an ornamental garden shrub. With its liking for a salty environment it is very popular in coastal gardens and the same applies here in Andalucia. You are not likely to have much success with this plant away from the coast but if your garden is on the shore then this trouble free shrub is one of the few that have a long flowering season and tolerates dry conditions. This one was seen at Sancti Petri on the 15th May and is a stunning example of this plant that would be hard to better even with a purchased cultivated shrub.