Armeria maritima - Care Guide

Sea pink, Sea thrift

Armeria maritima grows in the wild on the very edge of our sea cliffs in the teeth of the wind. They have however been propagated and hybridised to produce cultivars which are just as suited to growing in our gardens in rather less exposed positions.

A. maritima is a clump forming perennial with linear dark green leaves which form into a tight mound of up to 4 or 5in in height with, often, a greater spread. The flowers appear in April or May on stiff stems rising above the mound and topped by a spherical flower head of many individual flower heads. The wild forms of A. maritima are pink in a variety of shades. We offer A. maritima ‘Splendens’ which has large deep pink flower heads of up to 8in in height and A. maritima ‘Alba’ with pure white flowers.

These plants are perfect for the rock garden or as plants to edge a border. They do well on hot dry sunny banks or in crevices of a loose stoned patio.

Propagation of the clumps is easy by division in early spring. Alternatively you can collect the ripe seeds in summer and sow them in the cold frame in the autumn or spring.

Armeria maritima 'Alba'

Armeria maritima 'Alba'

Armeria maritima 'Alba'

Armeria maritima 'Alba'

A. maritima 'Splendens Perfecta'

A. maritima 'Splendens Perfecta'

A. maritima 'Splendens Perfecta'