• Photo of Armeria maritima (Armeria maritimas)

Plant Profile: Armeria maritima

Taxonomy: Armeria maritima

Names

Cliff Rose, Common Thrift, Cushion Pink, Lady's Cushion, Lady's Pincushion, Maritime Thrift, Marsh Daisy, Sea Gilliflower, Sea Grass, Sea Pink, Sea Thrift

  • Photo of Armeria maritima (Armeria maritimas)

Phonetic Spelling:ar-MER-ee-ah mar-ih-TEE-mah

Genus:Armeria

Species:maritima

Family:Plumbaginaceae

Sea thrift is well-suited to withstand moderate salt spray and thrives along the Mediterranean coast. It typically grows in rounded mats or tufts. To ensure its survival, it is essential to provide excellent drainage, as poor conditions can lead to the decline of the clumps. The plant's short, grass-like leaves may be overshadowed by taller, spreading perennials if measures are not taken to safeguard its growing area from encroachment. Additionally, sea thrift is sensitive to foot traffic. This plant can be propagated by dividing its clumps.

Armeria maritima Feature Summary

Armeria maritima Image Gallery

Tags

#white
#evergreen
#full sun tolerant
#drought tolerant
#low growing
#perennial
#white flowers
#pink flowers
#salt tolerant
#spring flowers
#salt spray tolerant
#mat
#summer flowers
#dappled sunlight
#clumps
#groundcover
#coastal plants
#rock gardens
#spring interest
#sandy soils tolerant
#loamy soils tolerant
#rocky soils tolerant
#dry soils tolerant
#partial shade tolerant
#container plants

Similar Plants

Armeria maritima Feature Summary

Attributes
Europe and North America, Greenland
dry soil, sandy soil, drought, shallow rocky soil, tolerates moderate salt spray
Perennial
Flowers
This plant has bright pink or white, round, balloon-like flower heads on scapes in spring from April to May.
Pink
White
Spring
Summer
Leaves
Thin, grass-like, dark green foliage
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Herbaceous Perennial
Ground Cover
Rounded
Spreading
Clumping
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Good Drainage
Less than 12 inches
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Landscape
Rock Garden
Border
Mass Planting
Drought
Salt
Dry Soil
Container
Coastal
Butterflies

Armeria maritima Attributes

Armeria maritima: Country Or Region Of Origin

Europe and North America, Greenland

Armeria maritima: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

dry soil, sandy soil, drought, shallow rocky soil, tolerates moderate salt spray

Armeria maritima: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Armeria maritima: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Armeria maritima Flowers

Armeria maritima: Flower Description

This plant has bright pink or white, round, balloon-like flower heads on scapes in spring from April to May.

Armeria maritima: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Pink
filter_vintage
White

Armeria maritima: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Armeria maritima: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Armeria maritima Leaves

Armeria maritima: Leaf Description

Thin, grass-like, dark green foliage

Armeria maritima: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Armeria maritima: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Armeria maritima: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Armeria maritima Whole Plant Traits

Armeria maritima: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Armeria maritima: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Armeria maritima: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Armeria maritima: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Armeria maritima: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Armeria maritima: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Armeria maritima Cultural Conditions

Armeria maritima: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Armeria maritima: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Armeria maritima: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Armeria maritima: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Armeria maritima: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Armeria maritima: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Armeria maritima Stem

Armeria maritima: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Armeria maritima Landscape

Armeria maritima: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Armeria maritima: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Armeria maritima: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Armeria maritima: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Armeria maritima: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees