Sicilian sea lavender (Limonium hyblaeum)

Also known as: cushion plant

Sicilian sea lavender is a low growing plant that can form large, thick mats. It survives in very salty conditions, outcompetes native plants and reduces bird habitat.

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How does this weed affect you?

Sicilian sea lavender grows quickly and can form dense colonies, where it:

• outcompetes native plants
• reduces bird habitat.

What does it look like?

Sicilian sea lavender is a low growing perennial plant up to 25 cm tall. The plants often grow in dense compact colonies (that look like cushions). As they age, the centre plants die which gives the colony a ring shape or hemispherical shape that gradually increases in diameter. This shape helps to deflect salt spray.

Leaves are:

• green, occasionally reddish
• up to 3.5 cm long and 1.6 cm wide
• spoon-shaped, narrow at the base and wider at the end
• densely clustered in rosettes.

Flowers are:

• pink or purple
• tube-shaped with 5 or more lobes
• grouped in spikes
• on one or more stalks above the rosette of leaves
• present from late spring to autumn.

Fruit:

The fruit is a dry capsule with a single seed, 2 mm long.

Roots:

Roots are fast growing with semi-woody rhizomes.

Similar looking plants

Sicilian sea lavender plants look similar to other Limonium species including:

• Native sea lavender (Limonium australe), which grows on the south coast of NSW. It has larger leaves (up to 8 cm long) and grows up to 40 cm tall.
• Winged sea lavender (Limonium lobatum), which is also a weed. It grows mostly in the Western region of NSW. It has lobed leaves and grows much taller (up to 1 m).

Other species of Limonium can be distinguished by the wings on their flowering stems.

Where is it found?

In NSW, naturalised plants have been found in the Greater Sydney region around Gosford on the coast. Although most plants grow in coastal areas it has also been found near Lake Cargelligo in the Central West.

It is native to Sicily, Italy.

What type of environment does it grow in?

Sicilian sea lavender mainly grows in coastal areas and can survive tidal inundation. Plants are drought and salt tolerant. They prefer alkaline soils and are mostly found in sandy, shelly and rocky soils. In NSW plants have been found growing:

• in salt marshes
• in rocky areas
• in sand dunes
• next to lakes
• on gravelly roadsides.

Maps and records

• Recorded presence of Sicilian sea lavender during property inspections (Map: Biosecurity Information System - Weeds, 2017-2026)
  These records are made by authorised officers during property inspections under the Biosecurity Act 2015. Officers record the presence of priority weeds in their council area and provide this to the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Records reflect the presence of the weed on the date of inspection.
  
  

How does it spread?

Plants can spread by seed and plant parts. Sicilian sea lavender has been sold and grown as a garden plant around Australia in the past.

By plant parts

Plants grow from rhizomes. This is how the cushions of Sicilian sea lavender grow larger. If rhizomes break off, they can spread to new areas via:

• vehicles and machinery
• dumped garden waste.

By seeds

Sicilian sea lavender plants can produce well over 100 seeds per square metre. Flowers can self-pollinate therefore infestations can grow from a single plant.

Seeds are spread by:

• water, especially seawater (plants have been found amongst tidal debris)
• wind
• contaminated soil
• sticking to clothing, boots or vehicles tyres
• animals (including birds and rabbits).

References

Adair, R. (2012). Presentation: Sicilian Sea Lavender a new and emerging threat to Victoria’s saltmarsh. Retrieved 2018 from: https://www.australisbiological.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Limonium-presentation-Philip-Island-12-September-2012.pdf

Johnson, S. B. (2017). Getting a grip on the slippery Sicilian sea lavender Limonium hyblaeum. In 19th NSW Biennial Weeds Conference Papers Experience the Highs–working smarter together. Armidale NSW.

Parsons, R. F. (2013). Limonium hyblaeum (Plumbaginaceae), a cushion plant invading coastal southern Australia. Cunninghamia : a journal of plant ecology for eastern Australia. 13: 267–274

PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 24/09/2024 from: https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Limonium~hyblaeum

Rodrigo, T. M., Gibson, M., Versace, V. L., & Carr, G. W. (2013). Report on the biology and ecology of Limonium hyblaeum Brullo at Port Fairy, Victoria, with respect to its invasive potential.

VicFlora (2024). Flora of Victoria, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 18 September 2024 from: https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/58db641c-755d-468d-a5c8-fe43b637ec1d

More information

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Control

Treating plants before they seed is the most effective way to control infestations. Return to control areas regularly to check progress and re-treat when needed.

Physical removal

Individual plants and small infestations can be easily removed by hand. This can be done year-round but will be easiest when the soil is damp.

 Take care when removing large plants as they will have a bigger, hardier root system. It is important to remove all the roots, otherwise the plants can regrow.

Disposal

Contact your local council for information about how to dispose of Sicilian sea lavender.

Chemical control

Check treated areas regularly to make sure plants are dead and follow up if needed.

Spraying

Spray actively growing plants. Ensure that all of the foliage is covered.

Splatter gun

Splatter guns can be used to spray small amounts of concentrated herbicide on dense infestations. The specialised nozzle produces large droplets, which allows plants up to 10 m away to be sprayed with limited chance of spray drift.

Wiping

This method is labour intensive but effective for small infestations.

Herbicide options

See Using herbicides for more information.

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Fluroxypyr 200 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 500 mL to 1 L per 100 L water
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Do not graze failed crops and treated pastures or cut for stock feed for 7 days after application. See label for further information.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Fluroxypyr 333 g/L (Starane™ Advanced)
Rate: 300 to 600 mL per 100 L water
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Do not graze failed crops and treated pastures or cut for stock food for 7 days after application. See label for more information.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: One part product to 50 parts water
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: One part product to 9 parts water
Comments: Splatter gun
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: One part product to 20 parts water
Comments: Wipe onto leaves
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 10 - 20 g per 100 L water plus surfactant
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Nil (recommended not to graze for 7 days before treatment and for 7 days after treatment to allow adequate chemical uptake in target weeds).
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 10 g per 1 L of water plus surfactant
Comments: Wipe onto leaves
Withholding period: Nil (recommended not to graze for 7 days before treatment and for 7 days after treatment to allow adequate chemical uptake in target weeds).
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High

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Biosecurity duty

The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.

Area	Duty
All of NSW	General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable.
Greater Sydney	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Eradication) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found.
Hunter	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Prevention) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found.
	*To see the Regional Strategic Weeds Management Plans containing demonstrated outcomes that fulfil the general biosecurity duty for this weed click here

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Reviewed 2024