Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Armeria maritima is the botanical name for a species of flowering plant. It is a popular garden flower, known by several common names, including "thrift", "sea thrift", and "sea pink".

The plant has been distributed worldwide as a garden and cut flower. It does well in gardens designed as xeriscapes or rock gardens. If planted in its native coastal strand, this plant needs no supplementary irrigation after established. Plant in full sun, in well draining soils or in cliffs or rock walls. Often short lived away from cool seashore conditions since supplementary watering will often rot centers of plants.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Size

6 - 12 in Tall
4 - 12 in Wide

Form

Upright, Mounding, Rounded

Growth rate

Moderate

Dormancy

Evergreen, Summer Deciduous

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Color

Purple, Pink

Flowering season

Spring

Special uses

Containers, Deer resistant

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Water

Moderate

Summer irrigation

Max 2x / month once established

Ease of care

Easy

Cold tolerance

Tolerates cold to 20 - 30° F

Soil drainage

Fast

Soil description

Well draining clay or sand soil, clay or rock cliffs. Tolerates saline soil..
Soil PH: 4 - 10

Maintenance

Prune back dead folliage and deadhead in spring.

Propagation

For propagating by seed: No treatment.

Site type

Ocean bluffs, ridges, strand, sand, exposed grassy places

Plant communities

Closed-cone Pine Forest, Northern Coastal Scrub

Butterflies