Sunday, June 17, 2012

Sea Thrift in the Little Yard


Armeria maritima
Common Name: sea thrift

Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Plumbaginaceae
Zone: 4 to 8
Native Range: Mountain and coastal areas in the northern hemisphere
Height: 0.5 to 1 feet
Spread: 0.5 to 1 feet
Bloom Time: April to May
Bloom Color: Pink, White
Bloom Description: Pink to white
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry
Maintenance: Medium
Flowers: Showy Flowers
Tolerates: Dry Soil, Shallow, Rocky Soil, Drought
Uses: Groundcover, Will Naturalize

Culture:
Best grown in infertile, dry, well-drained soils in full sun.
Foliage mounds tend to rot in the center if grown in moist,
 fertile soils or in heavy clay. Good drainage is essential.
 Deadhead spend flower stems to encourage additional bloom.

Noteworthy Characteristics
Thrift or sea pink is a compact, low-growing plant which forms a dense,
mounded tuft of stiff, linear, grass-like, dark green leaves (to 4" tall).
Tufts will spread slowly to 8-12" wide. Tiny, pink to white flowers
bloom in mid spring in globular clusters (3/4-1" wide) atop slender,
naked stalks rising well above the foliage to 6-10" tall. Sporadic
additional flowering may occur throughout the summer.
Flower clusters are subtended by purplish, papery bracts.
In the wild, thrift or sea pink commonly grows in saline environments
along coastal areas where few other plants can grow well,
hence the common name.

Problems No serious insect or disease problems.

The Little Pink Mounds in the back and around the tree is the Sea Thrift
Right on the tree trunk are chives ready to go to seed.
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