Thrift (sea pink) Armeria maritima
Thrift (sea pink) (Armeria maritima) is an evergreen perennial groundcover in the Plumbaginaceae family, native to Coasts and mountains of Europe and North America. It grows 10–30 cm (4–12 in) tall and 20–30 cm (8–12 in) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -35 °C (-31 °F). Space plants about 25 cm (10 in) apart.
Plan Thrift (sea pink) in your garden →
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Thrift (sea pink) at a glance
| Type | Perennial groundcover, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Plumbaginaceae |
| Mature height | 10–30 cm (4–12 in) |
| Mature spread | 20–30 cm (8–12 in) |
| Spacing | 25 cm (10 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 5.5–8.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -35 °C (-31 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 3) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 30 °C (86 °F) |
| Flowering | from about May for 6–11 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | High |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Coasts and mountains of Europe and North America |
| Common in gardens of | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇫🇷 France, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇳🇴 Norway |
Is Thrift (sea pink) toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Thrift (sea pink)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
See Thrift (sea pink) in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden (8 plants)
- Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden (16 plants)
- Denver Botanic Gardens (16 plants)
- New York Botanical Garden (16 plants)
- Jardin botanique de Montréal (16 plants)
- Kew: glasshouses and rock garden (12 plants)
Questions about Thrift (sea pink)
- How far apart should I plant Thrift (sea pink)?
- About 25 cm (10 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 20–30 cm (8–12 in).
- Does Thrift (sea pink) need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Thrift (sea pink) need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Thrift (sea pink)?
- It tolerates about -35 °C (-31 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 3.
- When does Thrift (sea pink) flower?
- From about May for 6–11 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Thrift (sea pink) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
- What grows well with Thrift (sea pink)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Thrift (sea pink). Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- Wildflowers and meadows, Plantlife (UK)
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Notes and assumptions
- Salt-tolerant cushions of grassy leaves with pink pompom flowers; grows on sea cliffs and in alpine turf.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Cape leadwort (plumbago) Plumbago auriculata
- Statice (wavyleaf sea lavender) Limonium sinuatum
- Chinese plumbago (Willmott’s blue leadwort) Ceratostigma willmottianum
- Creeping thyme Thymus serpyllum
- Hosta Hosta spp.
- Lamb's ear Stachys byzantina
- Stonecrop (sedum) Hylotelephium spectabile
- Sweet woodruff Galium odoratum