Armeria maritima
Common thrift, Sea thrift, Ladies cushion, Maritime thrift
Also known as Armeris vulgaris
- Height × spread
- 0.2m × 0.3m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Flowers
- Spring, Summer
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
Thrift is a tussock-forming plant with very fine grassy foliage that is native to Britain and Ireland. The plant is topped by lovely round flower heads, coloured rich pink that come at the end of spring and in early summer. In the wild it is found in a wide range of habitats, from salt marshes to mountain summits. In the garden, it is ideal in the rockery and for planting around stone walls. This plant is visited by bumble bees for its pollen and nectar and its tussocks can provide good cover for ground and rove beetles. Folklore has it that you will never be poor as long as you have thrift growing in your garden.
- Flower colour
- Pink
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Dome
- Height
- 0.2m
- Spread
- 0.3m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer
- Flowers in
- Spring, Summer
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Seaside garden, Rock garden, Mediterranean garden, Gravel garden, Cottage garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, tolerates part shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Gravelly soil, Loam (normal), Poor soil, Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Drought resistant
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Ground cover, Deer resistant, Bee attraction, Butterfly attraction
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water during dry periods
For plants in the ground, when there has been little or no rain for a period of 7-10 days and the soil is dry, give it a deep watering and repeat weekly until there is a downpour of rain. Check plants in pots more frequently, especially in hot weather.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.
Summer
Summer - early · Outdoors
Feed a general fertiliser
Where plants have moderate needs for nutrients, they can simply be given a general feed, fairly early in the growth season so that the growth has plenty of time to harden off before the cold weather.
Give plants a general boost with the application of a general purpose fertiliser which is spread around the root area of the plant, with amounts as directed on the feed label.
Found in
More Armeria
Armeria maritima 'Splendens'
Common thrift, Sea thrift, Ladies cushion, Maritime thrift
Armeria
Thrift, Sea pink
Armeria 'Dreameria® Dreamland'
False thrift
Armeria 'Dreameria® Sweet Dreams'
False thrift
Armeria juniperifolia
Juniper thrift, Pyrenees thrift
Armeria juniperifolia 'Bevan's Variety'
Juniper thrift, Pyrenees thrift
Armeria maritima 'Alba'
Common thrift, Sea thrift, Ladies cushion, Maritime thrift
Armeria maritima 'Armada Rose'
Common thrift, Sea thrift, Ladies cushion, Maritime thrift