Bloomipedia
Carolina sea lavender (Limonium carolinianum)
Photo: Tom Field via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Carolina sea lavender

Limonium carolinianum

Carolina sea lavender (Limonium carolinianum) is a flowering plant in the Plumbaginaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly July–September across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Carolina sea lavender is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in July–September.

18states where USDA records it
2Bloomipedia state lists include it
4,553U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Maine, Rhode Island

Quick look

Limonium carolinianum, known variously as Carolina sealavender, canker root, ink root, marsh root, lavender thrift, American thrift, or seaside thrift, is a species of flowering plant native to the eastern shores of North America, from northern Mexico to Canada. It is a slow-growing perennial herb found in salt marshes and other maritime habitats.

  • It belongs to the Plumbaginaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 18 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Maine and Rhode Island. NatureServe
  • In Maine, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–August. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as summer. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 1,034 research-grade sightings of it in Maine, ranking #71 among the 160 flowers on our Maine list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 164 research-grade sightings of it in Rhode Island, ranking #97 among the 164 flowers on our Rhode Island list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (391 records)
Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
MaineNativeJuly–August1,034
Rhode IslandNativefew records (13)164

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Maine
Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maine. Maine rare plant list
Rhode Island
Not listed Not on Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Rhode Island. RI rare plants 2016
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records Carolina sea lavender in 18 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia.

Maine counties with USDA records: Cumberland, Hancock, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Waldo, Washington, York.

Rhode Island counties with USDA records: Bristol, Kent, Newport, Providence, Washington.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Carolina sea lavender a high shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.0 to 8.5 and winter lows down to -8 °F.

Shade tolerance
High
Drought tolerance
Low
Moisture use
High
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium, fine
Soil pH range
6.0 to 8.5
Minimum temperature tolerated
-8 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
180
Annual precipitation range
40 to 55 inches
Minimum root depth
10 inches
Salinity tolerance
High
Fertility requirement
Low
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
Short
Active growth period
Spring
Fruit or seed
Blue · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by
bare root, seed
Commercial availability
No Known Source

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for LICA17. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Limonium angustatum, Limonium nashii, Limonium obtusilobum, Limonium trichogonum.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 120 counties across 16 states; the most are in Florida (26), Texas (14), Virginia (11).

More from the Plumbaginaceae family (1 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Cape leadwort.

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Sources