Armeria maritima ‘Splendens’

‘Thrift’, ‘Common Thrift’, ‘Sea Pink’, or ‘Cliff Rose’

Armeria maritima ‘Splendens’ is a lovely, densely mounded evergreen plant with long, slender stems bearing deep pink colored globular flowers. Their leaves are linear, dark green, and grass-like. This herbaceous perennial will mound up to a foot high, and wide, and bear its ‘splendid’ flowers bobbing above it like balloons. They bloom April through June and are tolerant of very dry, salty, and infertile soil. Armeria Species are commonly distributed along the coasts of the Northern Hemisphere, and thrive on ledges and cliffs in the salt spray.

Armeria are included in the Plumbaginaceae family, and ‘plumbum’ being Latin for lead, these plants are also called the Leadworts. The name “Maritima” states its relation to the sea, or coastal areas. Chalk glands at the base of Armeria allow the plant to excrete calcareous salts accumulated in them from the salt soil and air they grow in. These are what allow it to grow in conditions that would be harsh to other plants. Plant Armeria maritima ‘Splendens’ in full sun. The sweetly scented flowers attract butterflies to the garden. The Sunset Climate Zones are A2, A3, 1-9, 14-24.

See our blog on Armeria ‘Alliacea’ for a sister plant that we also grow here at Clearwater Color Nursery. We are currently growing Armeria maritima ‘Splendens’ in 6 packs and 1 gallon containers. Give us a call, ‘Like’ us on Facebook, or check out our website at www.clearwatercolor.com to see this and many other plants we are growing!