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Summary

Bloom Color: Pink, Purple, Red, White. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Late spring, Mid summer. Form: Upright or erect.

Physical Characteristics

Armeria maritima is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.1 m (0ft 4in) by 0.2 m (0ft 8in) at a slow rate.
It is hardy to zone (UK) 4 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from June to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, beetles, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies).
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

A. elongata. A. vulgaris. Statice armeria. S. maritima.

Habitats

Ground Cover; Cultivated Beds; East Wall. In. South Wall. In. West Wall. In.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Root
Edible Uses:

Leaves - cooked[177]. Used for slimming[61]. Root[69]. No more details are given[69].

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Sea thrift is rarely used in herbal medicine, though the dried flowering plant is antibiotic and has been used in the treatment of obesity, some nervous disorders and urinary infections[268]. It cannot be used externally as an antibiotic poultice because it can cause dermatitis or local irritation[268].

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Other Uses

A good ground-cover for a sunny position[200]. The cultivar 'Vindictive' has been especially recommended[188] and so has 'Alba'[190]. Plants form a slowly spreading carpet[208].

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife Ground cover

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Alpine garden, Border, Container, Massing, Rock garden, Seashore, Specimen. Succeeds in most soils including clay and poor sands[200]. Prefers a well-drained sandy soil with added leaf mould and a sunny position[1, 111, 134]. Requires an acid soil according to one report[24] whilst others say that it dislikes acid soils. Plants are very wind-tolerant and succeed in maritime gardens[233]. Established plants are drought tolerant[190]. Succeeds when grown at the top of a retaining wall or a cavity wall[219]. The plant tolerates light treading[200]. It forms a slowly expanding clump and makes a good edging plant[111]. A good butterfly plant[24, 30]. The flower is a symbol of sympathy, used at funerals[66]. Special Features: North American native, Suitable for cut flowers.

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Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for 8 hours in warm water and then sow in pots of sandy soil in a cold frame. Germination usually takes place in 2 - 3 weeks at 15°c[134]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter, planting them out in late spring or early summer. Division in spring or after flowering[111]. Fairly easy, large divisions can be planted out straight into their permanent positions whilst it is probably best to pot up smaller divisions and to grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are rooting well.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Expert comment

Author

(Mill.)Willd.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment


	May 11 2012 12:00AM

I soaked some seeds overnight in water that reached 39°C and put them on the kitchen windowsill in January. I got excellent germination over two to three weeks. A batch with no soaking failed to germinate even after a year left outside.

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Armeria maritima - (Mill.)Willd.