Thrift

If you have a hot, dry spot with excellent drainage, you must give thrift a try. A small, tidy plant, it covers itself with adorable bobbing pink flowers. It's a charming groundcover, edging plant, or rock garden feature. When planted in large groups, it forms a mat of attractive grassy foliage and colorful marble-size balls of flowers.

Also called sea pink, this tough plant tolerates wind, sea spray, and is drought-tolerant. They do need well-drained soil to prevent root rot.

Light:

Sun,Part Sun

Zones:

4-8

Plant Type:

Perennial

Plant Height:

4-15 inches tall

Plant Width:

4-12 inches wide

Bloom Time:

Heaviest bloom is in spring with periodic bloom through summer and fall

Landscape Uses:

Containers,Beds & Borders,Slopes,Groundcover

Special Features:

Flowers,Attractive Foliage,Winter Interest,Cut Flowers,Drought Tolerant,Deer Resistant,Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

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Armeria pseudarmeria

Armeria pseudarmeria grows larger in all respects than sea thrift. Leaves are wider, the plant grows several inches taller, and flowers are larger. Zones 6-7
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'Morning Star Deep Rose' thrift

Armeria maritima 'Morning Star Deep Rose' has rich rose flowers that last for a long time over a mound of grassy green foliage. It grows 6 inches tall. Zones 3-9
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Pink thrift

Armeria maritima 'Rosea' has medium-pink, ball-shape blooms that rise 6-8 inches above grassy green foliage. Remove old flowers to keep it blooming. Zones 3-9
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'Ruby Glow' thrift

Armeria maritima 'Ruby Glow' has deep pink blooms on 8-inch-tall stalks. Zones 3-9
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White thrift

Armeria maritima 'Alba' bears pure-white blooms on 8-inch-tall stems over grassy foliage. Zones 3-9
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Garden Plans

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Along a Path Garden Plan
Spring Rock Garden
Summer Rock Garden
Drought-Tolerant Slope Garden Plan
Season-Long Garden Plan

Plant It With

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Avens

Grassy-looking thrift pairs well against aven's fuzzy leaves and big, bold flowers.

Iris

The swordlike spears of iris mimic the grassy effect of thrift foliage. Peak bloom of thrift coincides with iris season.

Catmint

The silvery foliage and clear blue blooms of catmint pair beautifully with thrift. Both produce their first flush of blooms at the same time in spring and continue the colorful show throughout the summer.

Propagation

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Seed
Division