Common Name: Sea Thrift

General Information

Armeria maritima is a herbaceous, perennial plant forming a low, compact mound of growth. The mound spreads slowly, becoming 20 - 30cm or more wide[].
The plant is occasionally used medicinally and perhaps also for food. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental and ground cover, there are several named forms.

Known Hazards

Contact with the plant can cause irritation or dermatitis in sensitive individuals[].

Botanical References

,

Range

Eurasia - from Norway to Spain, east through Russia to the Russian Far East, through the Balkans to Turkey; northern and western N. America -

Habitat

Coastal salt marshes, pastures and maritime cliffs[]. Dry, sandy, somewhat acidic soils in sandy turf, coastal salt marshes, cliffs and mountain pastures[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	0.10 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Bees, Flies, Beetles, Lepidoptera
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in most well-drained soils including clay and poor sands[]. Foliage mounds tend to rot in the centre if grown in moist, fertile soils or in heavy clay[]. Prefers a well-drained sandy soil with added leaf mould and a sunny position[, , ]. Grows well in saline soils[]. Requires an acid soil according to one report[] whilst others say that it dislikes acid soils. Plants are very wind-tolerant and succeed in maritime gardens[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[]. Succeeds when grown at the top of a retaining wall or a cavity wall[].
The plant tolerates light treading[]. It forms a slowly expanding clump and makes a good edging plant[].
A good butterfly plant[, ].
The flower is a symbol of sympathy, used at funerals[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked[]. Used for slimming[].

Medicinal

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[]. It cannot be used externally as an antibiotic poultice because it can cause dermatitis or local irritation[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A good ground-cover for a sunny position[], though only practical for small areas due to its slow spread[]. The cultivar 'Vindictive' has been especially recommended[] and so has 'Alba'[]. Plants form a slowly spreading carpet[].

Other Uses

None known

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[]. 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[]. 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.