When to plant Statice in Cool Australia

Cool zone — applies to Hobart, Canberra, Ballarat, Orange, Armidale and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Temperate · Subtropical · Tropical · Arid.

Sow statice direct from September to October in spring, or from February to April in autumn, dropping the seed just 3 mm deep where the plants are to grow. Germination is slow and uneven at 14-28 days, so keep the bed moist and be patient. This is a long-haul flower, needing around 140 days to reach its papery, colourful blooms, prized fresh and as everlastings for drying. Space plants 40 cm apart with 30-40 cm between rows. In the cold-winter climate of Canberra, Ballarat and Orange, statice is fully hardy and rewards a sunny, well-drained position with weeks of long-lasting colour.

Sowing calendar — cool zone

Green months are your sowing window: February to April and September to October.

Growing notes

Statice is a tough, drought-tolerant flower once established, which makes it a dependable performer in cool gardens, but it has one clear failure mode: it hates wet feet. Seed and young plants sitting in cold, heavy, waterlogged soil rot at the crown, so the fix is drainage above all. Choose the sunniest, best-drained bed you have, dig in coarse sand or grit if your soil is clay, and avoid low spots where cold water collects over a Hobart or Armidale winter.

Statice dislikes root disturbance, so direct sowing where the plants are to grow gives better results than transplanting. Barely cover the seed at 3 mm, keep it evenly moist through its slow germination, then thin the seedlings to 40 cm once they are established.

Beyond drainage, statice is undemanding: it wants full sun, tolerates poor and even slightly salty soils, and needs little feeding, since rich ground produces leaf at the expense of flowers. For drying, cut the stems when most of the tiny flowers on each spray are open but still fresh, then hang them upside down in bunches in a dry, airy, shaded spot. Cutting regularly for the vase also encourages the plant to keep throwing up new flower stems through the season.

Statice at a glance

Common questions

How do you grow statice from seed?

Sow direct where the plants are to grow, barely covering the seed at 3 mm, in spring from September to October or in autumn from February to April. Germination is slow at 14-28 days, so keep the bed moist. Statice dislikes root disturbance, so avoid transplanting.

Does statice grow well in cool climates?

Yes, statice is fully hardy and performs well in cold-winter districts like Canberra and Orange, provided it has full sun and sharp drainage. Its main enemy is wet, heavy soil in winter, so raise the bed or add grit if your ground holds water.

How do you dry statice flowers?

Cut the stems when most of the tiny flowers on each spray are open but still fresh, then hang them upside down in small bunches in a dry, airy, shaded spot. Statice is a classic everlasting and holds its colour well once dried this way.

Why is my statice all leaf and no flowers?

Too much rich soil or fertiliser drives leafy growth at the expense of blooms. Statice actually prefers lean, well-drained ground in full sun, so ease off feeding, ensure it gets plenty of sun, and it will produce far more flower stems.

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