Armeria maritima
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ar-MER-ee-ah mar-ih-TEE-mah
- Description
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Sea thrift is an evergreen flowering perennial in the plumbago family (Plumbaginaceae) native to coastal area of rocky cliffs, roadsides and salt marshes of the northern hemisphere. There are 12 subspecies of the plant that reflect where the plant is growing. Subsp. californica grows on the west coast of Canada and the United States and subsp. sibirica grows in subarctic Eurasia and North America and Colorado. The genus name is Latinized from the old French name armoires for a cluster-headed dianthus. Specific epithet means about the sea or coastal
The plants can grow 6 inches to 2 feet tall and spread up to 1 foot. They do well in full sun in well-drained sandy to rocky soils and prefer cooler coastal environments. They are salt tolerant and will grow in soils that have a high cooper concentration.
From late spring and sporadically through fall, the plants provide clusters of pink, white or purple flowers that are held above the grass-like foliage. There are several cultivars available.
Use these plants in a rock garden, borders or containers.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Too much water will cause root rot. Watch for aphids, slugs, snails, and the fungal disease powdery mildew
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Alba'
White flowers - 'Vindictive'
Recieved the award of Garden of Merit
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Vindictive'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
White flowers - 'Vindictive'
Recieved the award of Garden of Merit
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Vindictive'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Armeria
- Species:
- maritima
- Family:
- Plumbaginaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe and North America, Greenland
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- dry soil, sandy soil, drought, shallow rocky soil, tolerates moderate salt spray
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Small dry capsules contain a single seed
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- more than 20 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- This plant has bright pink or white, round, balloon-like flower heads with purple papery bracts on scapes in spring from April to May with occasional repeat blooming through fall.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Thin, grass-like, dark green foliage in a basal rossette. Margins are often finely hairy and the dark green leaves are red-tinged in some species.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Slender leafless stems grow above the foliage 6 to 18 inches tall.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Fairy Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Salt
