Armeria maritima

Armeria maritima: Seaside Pink for the Salty Curb

Pink pompoms on slender stems over a tight evergreen cushion, a plant that grew up on windswept coasts and never complained once. Sea Thrift is tiny and tough. SALT AIR? BRING IT.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Armeria maritima
• Common Name: Sea Thrift, Common Thrift
• Height: 15–20 cm (6–8 in) in flower
• Spread: 20 cm (8 in)
• Flowers: Pink, rounded pompom heads on slender stems
• Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer (May to June)
• Foliage: Narrow, grass-like, evergreen leaves in a tight cushion
• Features: Evergreen, salt tolerant, good for cutting and drying

Where to Plant: Sea thrift belongs at the edge of things: along paths, between paving stones, in rock gardens, gravel beds and containers. Because it handles salt, it's a smart pick near driveways and sidewalks that get winter road salt. Sharp drainage suits it best.

Companion Plants: Thymus 'Coccineus' creeps between the thrift tufts with magenta flowers in June and July. Oenothera macrocarpa adds big yellow flowers at 15 to 30 cm in early summer. Eryngium 'Big Blue' stands behind at 70 to 75 cm with blue flowers all summer. This is a tough, dry-garden mix for full sun.

Plant Care: Plant in full sun in lean, sandy or gravelly, well-drained soil. Avoid rich soil, heavy clay and wet spots. Too much moisture or fertilizer causes the centre of the crown to rot. Water during the first season, then only during long dry spells. Cut spent flower stems at the base to keep it tidy and encourage a few more flowers. Don't cut the evergreen foliage to the ground in fall. If the centre dies out after a few years, lift and divide the clump in spring.

History: Sea thrift grows wild on coastal cliffs, salt marshes and mountains across the cooler parts of the Northern Hemisphere, with its stronghold in northern Europe, and maritima means of the sea. Its tolerance of salt, wind and poor soil has long made it a favourite for rock gardens and edging.

Final Thoughts: Use it to edge a sunny path or a rock wall, and skip the fussing. THRIFTY BY NAME. GORGEOUS BY NATURE.