Thrift Seapink
Armeria maritima
- Native to:
- Aleutian Is., Austria, Azores, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, Finland, Føroyar, France, Germany, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kuril Is., Labrador, Netherlands, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United States
Matthias Bethke (www.wikidata.org)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Plumbaginaceae
- Genus:
- Armeria
- Species:
- Armeria maritima
- USDA Symbol:
- ARMA6
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Subshrub
- Height:
- 30 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- pink, white, rose, purple
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, nutrient-poor, well-drained soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives in coastal environments
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best with light exposure and cool temperatures around 15-18°C. Surface sow or barely cover seeds.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Armeria maritima seeds germinated at higher percentages when they received cool (35 degree F) treatments as opposed to the 75 degree growth chamber immediately. A short cold treatment followed by temperatures of 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit would probably be the best germination strategy for this species.
Establishment: Seeds are collected between July 15th and September 26th. In San Francisco, seeds are collected up to 2 months earlier in warmer locations. Mature inflorescences are brown. Seeds should be dry at time of collection. The species is found in mountains and coastal regions within the Northern Hemisphere, including coastal bluffs and sand places, below 120 meters elevation in Northern Coastal scrub communities; from San Luis Obispo County, California, north to British Columbia.
Source: npn.rngr.net
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20C. Germinates within 3 months. Requires darkness.