Armeria pseudarmeria Ballerina White - Sea Thrift

The Armeria pseudarmeria Ballerina White, also known as Spanish grass or Maritime thrift, is a small evergreen perennial plant that forms an elegant clump of lanceolate leaves from which, from spring and for a long period, clusters of small white flowers emerge, tightly packed like a pom-pom. Planted en masse in dry rockeries and sunny borders or in planters, this lovely little plant provides a floral display for many weeks.

The Spanish grass Ballerina White belongs to the Plumbaginaceae family. It is a selection derived from Armeria pseudarmeria, native to mountains and coasts of the northern hemisphere, including Europe (Western Portugal). In 2009, the 'Ballerina' series developed by the Dutch company Kieft Bloemzaden BV brought attention to this sturdy and unpretentious little plant by receiving the 'Fleuroselect Award'. The Ballerina series plants offer larger flowers than the type, stronger floral stems, and are more prolific and vigorous.

This robust, fast-growing perennial plant reaches 25 cm (10in) in height when in bloom, 10 cm (4in) for the foliage, with a spread of 30 cm (12in). Armeria pseudarmeria forms a compact and dense clump composed of lanceolate basal leaves with a slightly bluish-green colour. The remarkably long flowering period starts in May-June and lasts until August, sometimes with a late summer rebloom. The flowers are grouped in dense, rounded heads on short, rigid stems. They are pure white with a green centre. The evergreen foliage, anchored to the spreading base, has a very vibrant blue-green colour. The linear and elongated leaves resemble those of certain grasses.

Armeria maritima 'Ballerina White' is a sun-loving plant that thrives in dry soil and coastal areas and is a ground cover in rockeries or borders. It can be paired with other perennials that require similar growing conditions: carnations, classic but unbeatable in this use, as well as other small cushions like woolly artemisia, heartleaf 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 pots, troughs, and planters.