Thrift

Armeria

* photo taken on May 7 2014 @ London Town Gardens, Edgewater, MD

Armeria alliacea ( Plantain Thrift )
Also called Armeria plantaginea. A perennial, reaching up to 2 feet x 20 inches in size, that is native to meadows in western Europe ( from the southern British Isles to Germany; south to Portugal to Italy ).
The narrow-oblanceolate leaves are up to 6 x 0.5 inches in size.
The rose-red flowers are borne in clusters up to 1.5 inches across, during late spring into early summer.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 in full sun.

Armeria 'Formosa Hybrids' ( Large Thrift )
A perennial, reaching a maximum size of 2 x 2 feet, with white, pink or deep red flowers borne in large balls all summer long.
Hardy zones 2 to 9

* historical archive photo

Armeria x hybrida 'Ornament'
Vigorous in habit, reaching up to 15 inches, with large, white or rose-pink flowers.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 in full sun on well drained soil.

Armeria juncea ( Alpine Thrift )
Reaches up to 10 inches in height, forming a dense, compact tuft of grassy foliage and profuse pink flowers borne during late spring.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 in full sun.

Armeria juniperifolia
A Spain native, reaching up to 6 inches x 1 foot, forming a dense, compact, evergreen tuft of gray-green, juniper-like foliage. The lavender-pink flowers are borne slightly above the foliage in inflorescences up to 0.8 inches across, during late spring into early summer.
Hardy zones 2 to 8 in full sun on very well drained soil.

* photo of unknown internet source

'Alba'
White flowers.

'Bevan's Variety'
Forms a mound of grassy, deep green foliage, up to 5 inches high, topped by very short stemmed, rounded, pink flower heads during early summer.

'Rosa Stoltz'
Forms a mound of very compact, grassy, deep green foliage, up to 3 inches high, topped by very short stemmed, rounded, lavender flower heads during late spring into early summer, repeating during autumn.

Armeria maritima ( Common Thrift )
A moderate growing, clumping, evergreen perennial, reaching a maximum size of 2 x 2 feet, that is native to southern Europe. An excellent rock garden plant, it is also great for edging borders.
The grassy leaves are up to 10 inches in length, are deep blue-green.
The pink ( rarely white, red or purple ) flowers are borne over a long season from mid spring to early summer. The flowers are borne on globular inflorescences up to 1 inch across. Deadheading old blooms encourages continuous blooming.
The flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 ( 2 and 3 on protected sites ) in full sun ( though tolerating partial shade ) on light, well drained soil. Easy to grow and very drought tolerant, it is tolerant of sandy, dry, saline conditions such as on the ocean front. Fertilize during early spring. Thrift are great for containers. Pest and disease problems are rare, though rot may occur on excessively wet sites. Plants can be propagated by division, every 3 or more years apart. Division can be done during autumn or early spring. Clumps that are never divided will eventually die out in the middle.

* photos of unknown internet source




'Alba'
Similar with pure white flowers during late spring into mid summer.

'Bloodstone'
Reaches up to 10 inches in height, with deep rose-red flowers borne over a longer period than any other cultivar.

'Dusseldorf Pride'
Reaches up to 10 inches with rose-red flowers during late spring into early summer.

* photo taken on May 4 2016 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 25 2016 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 2 2016 in Columbia, MD

'Laucheana'
Reaches up to 6 inches with bright pink flowers borne late spring to mid summer.

* photo taken on June 14 2012 in Columbia, MD
* photos taken on June 5 2013 in Columbia, MD


'Morning Star White'

* photo taken on Mar 26 2019 in Elkridge, MD

'Nifty Thrifty'
Very attractive with creamy-white variegated foliage and rose-red flowers that are borne during late spring.

* photo taken on Oct 1 2016 in Annapolis, MD

'Robusta'
Very vigorous, reaching up to 15 inches x 2 feet.
The flower clusters are up to 3 inches across.

'Rubrifolia'
Reaches up to 9 inches x 1 foot, with rich purple-red foliage and bright rose-pink flowers.

'Splendens'
Reaches a maximum size of 1 x 2 feet, with deep rose-red flowers borne on rounded clusters from late spring to mid summer.
Hardy zones 4 to 8

* photo taken on April 10 2012 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 15 2024 in Kincardine, ON

'Vindicative'
Reaches a maximum height of 8 inches, with deep rosy-pink flowers.

Armeria pseudoarmeria ( Border Thrift )
A woody based perennial, reaching a maximum size of 2.5 x 3.3 ( rarely over 2 ) feet, with lance-shaped leaves, up to 10 x 0.2 inches, forming dense tufted clumps.
It is native to coastal Portugal.
The white to deep pink flowers are borne on globular heads up to 2 inches across, during early to mid summer.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 in full sun to partial shade. Drought tolerant.

'Ballerina Lilac'
Compact in habit, reaching up to 1.2 feet in height, with abundant, lilac-pink flowers, with some repeat bloom into late summer.

'Ballerina Red'
Compact in habit, reaching up to 1.2 feet in height, with abundant, red flowers, with some repeat bloom into late summer.

* photo taken on June 1 2013 in Columbia, MD

'Ballerina White'
Compact in habit, reaching up to 1.2 feet in height, with abundant, white flowers, with some repeat bloom into late summer.

'Bee's Ruby'
Similar but reaching a maximum size of 2 x 3.5 feet, with rose-pink flowers.