Armeria maritima splendens - Sea Thrift

Armeria maritima 'Splendens' is a variety of Sea Thrift or Sea Pink. It is a small evergreen perennial plant that forms a spreading blue-green cushion adorned with tight clusters of small red to bright pink flowers from spring and over a long period. It sometimes has repeat flowering. Adapted to sandy coastal terrains, it can withstand wind, drought, and cold weather. Easy to grow, it only requires well-drained soil and full sun.

Sea Thrift 'Splendens' belongs to the family of Plumbaginaceae. It is one of the many cultivars of Armeria maritima, native to mountains and coasts of the northern hemisphere, including Europe. This robust perennial will reach 30 cm (12in) in height when in flower, 10 cm (4in) for the foliage, with a spread of 30 cm (12in). Armeria maritima 'Splendens' forms a compact and dense clump. The remarkably long flowering period starts in May and lasts until August. There can sometimes be a second bloom in late summer. The flowers are bright pink to red and grouped in dense round heads at the top of long rigid stems. The evergreen foliage, anchored on the ramified stump, has a very vivid blue-green colour that is still visible in winter. Its delicacy evokes that of grasses.

Sea Thrift thrives in well-drained soil and full sun, and is not afraid of coastal spray. It will fully play its role as ground cover in rockeries or borders. It can be associated with other perennials that require the same growing conditions such as carnations (classic but unbeatable for this purpose), as well as other small cushion-forming plants like woolly artemisia, heart-leaved globe daisy, creeping baby's breath, Helichrysum angustifolium, snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum), or Mexican fleabane (Erigeron karvinskianus). It can also be planted in an alpine garden or in pots, containers, and flower boxes.