Statice does come back every year in the warmest parts of the United States, specifically in zones 8 to 11. In these regions, where the climate is similar to its native Mediterranean habitat, statice is considered a perennial plant. This means that it can survive and thrive for multiple years, regrowing from the same root system each spring.
However, in most parts of the country where the winters are colder, statice is grown as an annual. This means that it completes its life cycle within a single year and does not survive the winter. In these regions, gardeners typically treat statice as a seasonal plant, sowing seeds or planting young seedlings in the spring, enjoying its beautiful blooms throughout the summer, and then allowing it to die off in the fall.
As a gardening and landscaping expert, I have had personal experiences with statice both as a perennial and an annual. In my home garden in zone 9, I have successfully grown statice as a perennial, watching it come back year after year and delighting in its vibrant flowers. It has become a reliable and low-maintenance addition to my garden, providing a burst of color each summer.
However, during my time working at a flower farm in zone 5, where winters are much colder, we grew statice as an annual. We would start the seeds indoors in early spring and then transplant the young seedlings into the field after the last frost. The statice plants would grow and bloom profusely throughout the summer, adding texture and color to our bouquets. Once the frost arrived in the fall, we would remove the spent plants and make way for the next season’s crops.
It’s worth noting that even in regions where statice is grown as an annual, it can still reseed itself if allowed to go to seed. This means that in subsequent years, you may find new statice plants popping up in unexpected places around your garden. While this can be a pleasant surprise for some, others may choose to collect the seeds and sow them intentionally to ensure consistent blooms each year.
While statice is native to the warm, rocky regions of the Mediterranean and is considered a perennial in zones 8 to 11, it is typically grown as an annual in most parts of the United States. Whether it comes back every year or not depends on the specific climate and growing conditions in your area. Regardless, statice is highly valued by flower farmers and florists for its abundant blooms and long-lasting qualities, making it a popular choice for adding color and texture to floral arrangements.
