Armeria maritima 'Alba'

RHS Plant Profile

thrift 'Alba'

Herbaceous Perennial

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A short, mat-forming, evergreen perennial with small, grass-like leaves. Clusters of white flowers on 15cm stems appear over a long period in late spring and summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: North–facing or West–facing or South–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5
Drought Resistance: Yes

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Plumbaginaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Armeria are evergreen perennials forming tufts or mats of strap-shaped or linear leaves, with long-stalked, dense clusters of small cup-shaped flowers
Name Status: Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained soil, suitable for rock garden and trough or the front of a border

Propagation

Propagate by seed, division or basal cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Rock garden
Flower borders and beds
Garden edging
Ground cover

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free