Boat-leaved sea-heath Plant Care
Frankenia cymbifolia Hook.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Wilsonia humilis, the silky wilsonia, is a species of perennial subshrub in the family Convolvulaceae. The species is endemic to Australia, occurring in coastal saltmarshes and also occasionally in inland saline areas, often colonising bare ground.
Full sun
At a glance
How do you care for Boat-leaved sea-heath?
Plant Boat-leaved sea-heath in full sun.
Where Is the Boat-leaved sea-heath Native To?
What Is the Boat-leaved sea-heath?
Boat-leaved sea-heath (Frankenia cymbifolia) belongs to the Frankeniaceae family within the Frankenia genus. Boat-leaved sea-heath is native to Australia, occurring in coastal saltmarshes and also occasionally in inland saline areas, often colonising bare ground.
Boat-leaved sea-heath displays a low mat-forming shrub growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Boat-leaved sea-heath produces small pink or white flowers.
What Light Does the Boat-leaved sea-heath Need?
Boat-leaved sea-heath thrives in full sun.
Light Requirement
Full sun
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Boat-leaved sea-heath?
Sandy, well-draining soil with low fertility. Good drainage is essential for Boat-leaved sea-heath to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
Where Should You Plant a Boat-leaved sea-heath?
Choose a spot with full sun and sandy, well-draining soil with low fertility. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.
Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.
How Do You Prune a Boat-leaved sea-heath?
Prune Boat-leaved sea-heath while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.
If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.
How Do You Care for a Boat-leaved sea-heath in Winter?
Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.
Young and container-grown shrubs need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.
How Do You Propagate a Boat-leaved sea-heath?
Boat-leaved sea-heath can be propagated through seeds, stem cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to smooth sea-heath plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Boat-leaved sea-heath Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Boat-leaved sea-heath, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Boat-leaved sea-heath?
Boat-leaved sea-heath is susceptible to aphids, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
Boat-leaved sea-heath is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Frankenia genus — compare its care with other Frankenia species on PlantoScan.
Frankenia is part of the Frankeniaceae plant family — browse all Frankeniaceae genera and species.
Boat-leaved sea-heath thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Frankenia Species
Other Frankenia species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Frankenia cymbifolia Hook., family Frankeniaceae (first published in Hooker's Icon. Pl. 3: t. 265 (1840)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Boat-leaved sea-heath, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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