Hungarian sea lavender is covering the Hevesi plain like a purple carpet

The grasslands of the South-Hevesi Regional Unit of the Bükk National Park Directorate are in a beautiful purple colour due to the mass flowering of the Hungarian sea lavender. It could well be the emblematic plant of the Hungarian alkaline grasslands, one of the most characteristic perennial flowering plants of the Tiszántúli steppes, capable of painting the whole horizon purple in summer.

Hungarian sea lavander (Limonium gmelinii ssp. hungarica) is a native plant of the Carpathian Basin, a member of the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae) and the leadwort family (Plumbaginaceae).

Salt-tolerant plant. Its leathery leaves store water well and its roots penetrate deep into the soil, protecting it from drying out in extremely aridareas.

It is found almost everywhere in the native grassy salt marshes, especially in the Trans-Tisza region. In many places it can even be found on the sides of flood embankments.

As quite a few of our species of slat marshes have recently started to spread along roadsides - due to the salting of roads - they can be found alongside motorways or in the car parks of large supermarkets.

It is important to know that, although the Hungarian sea lavender is not a protected plant, it should not be collected on areas of natural protection - like all other plants!

Source: Bükk National Park Directorate

Photos by Renáta Gál