Limonium Suworowii Pink Pokers

Lovely to welcome back, after an absence of many years, this very different, very striking ancient variety which has been reselected to produce only the biggest and best spikes of rose-pink pokers. The plants are earlier than other Limonium species and have mostly basal leaves which make the stems easy to cut with hardly any leaves to strip away. Perfect for fresh and dried flowers as they hold their colour well. 20-30”. HHA.

How to Grow Limonium from Seed

Limonium is best grown as a half-hardy annual in the UK. They grow to around 500mm (18") high with clusters of papery flowers appearing from July until the first frosts. When growing Limonium for dried flowers it is recommended they are picked whilst in full bloom in order to capture the fullness of the colour. Hang them upside down in a cool, well-ventilated, shaded place until totally dry before arranging.

Sow indoors from February-April. A warm kitchen windowsill is all you need for starting these seeds. Sow the seed thinly in pots or trays of seed compost and germinate at a temperature of 16°C (60°F). Keep moist without over-wetting. Germination should take three or four days and seedlings usually appear in 14-28 days. Prick off the seedlings into larger trays or pots once they are large enough to handle. Always hold by a leaf, never by the stem.  Grow on in cooler, but not cold conditions, a cold frame is ideal, before planting out. Gradually accustom young plants to outside conditions, taking care to avoid frosts, before planting out into well-drained soil in May or June. Space the plant about 200-300mm (8"- 12") apart in a sandy, free draining soil, in a bed that has been tilled to a fine tilth and is in an open, sunny situation.