Common Sea-lavender
Limonium vulgare
Limonium vulgare, called common sea-lavender, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Limonium native to Atlantic parts of Europe from southwestern Sweden to southwestern Iberia, and introduced elsewhere. A clumping perennial found in salt marshes and other maritime habitats, it is a probable species complex that includes Limonium maritimum and L.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limonium_vulgare
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Family
Plumbaginaceae
Genus
Limonium
Common Sea-lavender belongs to the family Plumbaginaceae, order Caryophyllales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Limonium vulgare, called common sea-lavender, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Limonium native to Atlantic parts of Europe from southwestern Sweden to southwestern Iberia, and introduced elsewhere. A clumping perennial found in salt marshes and other maritime habitats, it is a probable species complex that includes Limonium maritimum and L. narbonense.
Common Sea-lavender faces significant threats from coastal development, sea-level rise, and habitat degradation of its specialized salt marsh environments. Climate change-induced alterations to tidal patterns and increased storm intensity further threaten the delicate balance of its coastal wetland habitats, while human activities continue to fragment and destroy critical breeding and feeding areas.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Salt marshes, mudflats, and coastal wetlands along temperate shorelines, typically in areas with regular tidal inundation and saline soils. The species thrives in the upper zones of salt marshes where it can tolerate high salinity levels and periodic flooding.
Threats
Coastal development and urbanization
Salt marsh habitat degradation
Sea-level rise and climate change
Habitat fragmentation
Pollution and eutrophication
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Common Sea-lavender (Limonium vulgare). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/common-sea-lavender