English lavender is a mint that’s popular with gardeners. It does well in dry weather and is extraordinarily fragrant. It also can be processed into perfumes and sachets, used in aromatherapy and added to teas and baked goods for a unique taste. As you see, land lavender also is popular with bumblebees and other pollinators:
Sea lavender is another story, despite its name and color. It’s not fragrant mint; it’s a scentless leadwort. But it is hardy and can survive submersion in salt water. The sea lavender shown below was totally submerged by the rising tide in Great Cove after the image was taken.:
Sea Lavender also is popular with many people who use it for decorations; it preserves well as a dried flower. However, therein lies a problem: sea lavender is a slow grower, and foragers can deplete wild populations. Besides, according to Maine law (as I read it as of now), the rooted sea lavender in the intertidal zones is owned by the upland landowners whose possession should be obtained before it is taken.
(Images taken in Brooklin, Maine, on August 16, 2026.)