This perennial has soft red flowers growing on tall stems over its vibrant evergreen foliage which grows in a tufted form. Hardy in most of the UK down to -15°C.
Soft red flowers wave above emerald foliage in this drought-tolerant sea thrift. Growing natively in coastal areas of Portugal, it has gained the nickname 'Sea Thrift' - appropriate for a plant which often overlooks the ocean. It's well-suited to poor soil quality and rocky ground like its native cliffs, and likes the sun. If this sounds like a bit of your garden, bring a breath of sea breeze to your garden, balcony or windowbox with these fluffy, tutu-like flowers.
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Evergreen perennial
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Flower: tufted, evergreen foliage
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Flowers spring and summer, foliage year-round.
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Scientific Name
Armeria pseudarmeria ‘Ballerina Red’ (Dianthus-like plant, false thrift, variety: ballerina red)
Common Name
Thrift, Sea Thrift, Great Thrift, False Sea Thrift, Red Thrift
Origin
Native to the west coast of Portugal
Pruning Tips
Trim back spent flower stalks
Wildlife Value
Attractive to bees, butterflies, moths and other pollinators.
Positioning
Loves full sun and shelter from the wind.
Water
Drought tolerant, so only needs extra water in extreme heatwaves once established.
Soil
Ensure the soil is moist and well-draining; adding sand or grit if you have clay-like soils is a good idea.
Food
This plant doesn't need too much extra nutrition; annual mulching (addition of fresh compost) will keep it happy.
Pet-safe
Yes - no toxicity reported, though it's best for the plant and your pets if they don't nibble too much!
Sprouts Top Tips
Pick your worst-quality soil to plant sea thrift in - it's really not picky and can fill an otherwise tricky spot with beautiful foliage and blooms! The main thing to make sure of is that the soil is not sat soggy - the only thing this plant is fussy about is sitting in puddles.
