Specialized Denizens of the Marsh:
Sea Lavender, Sea Ox-Eye,
and the Pickleweeds
Story and photographs by Jane Ellis
Sea Lavender
As September arrives and the marsh cordgrass, also called
spartina, begins to turn its autumn golden color, you can find
beautiful gems of small delicate and fragrant blue-purple
flowers scattered about the high marsh zones and salt flats.
These wisps of color come from a native plant called sea
lavender, marsh rosemary or lavender thrift. Sea lavender
(Limonium carolinianum) has dark green leathery basal leaves
that can withstand flooding and high salinity. Salt glands in
the leaves pump salty water out leaving salt crystals behind
after the water evaporates. The roots of these plants contain
high amounts of tannin and have astringent properties.
In the past, the boiled roots were used as a gargle for sore
mouths and throats, and to treat diarrhea, dysentery, and
hemorrhoids. The long-lasting flowers, similar to baby’s
breath, are very popular in floral decorations and have been
over-harvested in certain areas of the country. It is now a
protected species in a number of states including some
areas of coastal South Carolina.
Above: Sea Lavender. Below: Sea Ox-Eye.
Sea Ox-Eye
In the spring and summer, it is hard to miss the prominent
flowers of sea or salt marsh ox-eye (Borrichia frutescens), also
called sea marigold and silver sea ox-eye daisy. These plants
form large colonies and are the dominant species found along
the edges of high marshes on Kiawah. The plants range
from six inches to four feet in height, have grey-green leaves,
and bloom from May to September. The yellow to gold
marigold-like flowers attract numerous butterflies, bees, and
other insects. They can survive in a wide range of salinities
due to their ability to sequester salt in their leaves. Sea ox-eye
is an important plant not only because of its ability to help
stabilize marsh edges but also because it provides cover and
nutrition for numerous marsh insects and other invertebrates.
In Texas, various bird species such as white pelicans and
roseate spoonbills find cover and nest-building material
in Borrichia frutescens. The leaves, when boiled into a tea,
have a bitter taste and, historically, have been used to treat
respiratory illnesses, back pain, and malaria.
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Naturally Kiawah