Sea thrift

Sun

Full sun; light afternoon shade can help in hot inland gardens.

Water

Water regularly while establishing, allowing the surface to dry between waterings. Once established, water during prolonged dry spells; avoid consistently damp soil.

Soil

Lean, sharply drained sandy, gritty or gravelly soil. Tolerates a range of soil pH and coastal salt spray; avoid heavy, wet clay and heavily enriched beds.

Height

0.5-1 ft (0.15-0.3 m), including flower stems

Spread

0.5-1 ft (0.15-0.3 m)

Flowers

Mainly late spring to early summer, with occasional later flowers; usually pink, with white and deeper pink selections available.

Foliage

Evergreen. Narrow, dark green, grass-like leaves form dense, low cushions.

Growth

Slow to moderate

Care needed

Low

• Plant with the crown at soil level in a sunny position with excellent drainage.
• Water new plants during dry weather; let established plants dry somewhat between waterings.
• Avoid routine feeding and rich manure, which encourage soft growth and loose cushions.
• Use a thin gravel mulch around the plant, keeping the crown free of mulch.
• Divide ageing clumps in spring when their centres become bare.

Pruning. Cut spent flower stems back to the foliage after flowering to keep the cushion tidy and encourage occasional repeat flowers. Remove dead leaves in early spring without cutting into healthy green growth.

Early spring

Remove dead leaves and check that winter rain has not left the crown sitting in wet soil.

Spring

Plant new specimens or divide ageing cushions, replanting healthy outer sections.

Late spring

Water newly planted clumps during dry spells, directing water onto the surrounding soil.

Early summer

Snip off faded flower stems at their bases.

Summer

Check containers during prolonged dry weather, but allow excess water to drain freely.

Autumn

Clear fallen leaves from cushions and keep drainage outlets open before wetter weather.

• Repeat small cushions along sunny path edges for a neat, low border.
• Plant among rocks and gravel with low stonecrops and alpine pinks for contrasting leaf textures.
• Use in coastal beds where wind and salt spray limit more tender plants.
• Grow in shallow troughs or containers with drainage holes and a gritty growing mix.

Garden styles it suits: Coastal, Alpine rock garden, Dry gravel garden, Cottage garden, Low-maintenance and Small-space.

Plant it with: Alpine pinks, Creeping thyme, Low-growing stonecrops, Rock rose and Candytuft.

Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees and other visiting insects.

• Crown or root rot in wet soil: improve drainage, reduce watering and replace badly rotted plants in a drier position.
• Bare or dying cushion centres: divide in spring and retain healthy outer sections.
• Aphids on flower stems: dislodge small colonies with water or use insecticidal soap according to the label, avoiding open flowers.
• Decline in prolonged heat and humidity: provide excellent drainage and airflow, avoid overhead watering, and try light afternoon shade.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people; no plant part is recognised as a significant poisoning hazard. It is not a food plant, and eating plant material may still cause mild digestive upset.

• Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)

  Chives have hollow, tubular leaves with an onion smell when crushed; sea thrift has narrow, solid leaves in dense evergreen cushions.

• Great thrift (Armeria pseudarmeria)

  Great thrift generally has broader, strap-like leaves and taller, sturdier flower stems than sea thrift.

The species name maritima means 'of the sea', referring to its frequent occurrence in coastal habitats.

Propagation. Divide established cushions in spring, keeping roots attached to each healthy outer section. Sow seed in a freely draining mix; seedlings may differ from named cultivars, so divide those to retain their characteristics.

Accepted botanical name

Armeria maritima

In the US and Canada

Native in Alaska, Canada, Greenland and the lower 48 states.

Native range

Alaska, Aleutian Is., Austria, Azores, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, British Columbia, Buryatiya, California, Central European Rus and Colorado.

Measured

Soil pH 4.7 to 7.5. Average height 8 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.