Family: Sea Thrift
Type: Perennial
Other Common Name: Sea Pink
The Sea Thrift ‘Alba’, scientifically known as Armeria maritima ‘Alba’, presents as a charming perennial that graces gardens with its delicate white blooms and tufted evergreen foliage. Renowned for its compact size and globular flower heads, this plant adds a touch of elegance to any setting. Its resilience against coastal conditions and drought makes it a versatile choice for a variety of landscapes.
Flourishing in full sun, the Sea Thrift ‘Alba’ thrives in well-draining soil, showcasing its bright, ball-shaped flowers atop slender stalks in late spring to early summer. The plant’s ability to form neat, low-growing mounds of grass-like leaves throughout the year adds continuous greenery and texture to gardens. This attribute, combined with its minimal care requirements, endears it to gardeners seeking both beauty and low maintenance.
Incorporating Sea Thrift ‘Alba’ into your garden introduces an element of structure and color that complements both modern and traditional designs. Its adaptability to various soil types, resistance to pests, and ability to withstand salty breezes make it an ideal candidate for rock gardens, borders, and coastal landscapes. Whether used as ground cover or as part of a mixed perennial bed, Sea Thrift ‘Alba’ enhances the garden with its persistent charm and vibrant blooms.
Hardiness Zone: 2a-2a
Deer Resistant: Yes
Pet Friendly: Yes
Moisture Preference: Dry To Average
Sun Needs: Full Sun To Partial Shade
Drought Tolerance (Xeriscape): Yes
Growth Rate: Slow
Average Height (feet): 6 inches (8 inches with the flowers)
Average Spread (feet): 8 inches
Average Life Span (years): 10
Form: Mounded
Flower Color: White
Bloom Season: From Mid Spring To Early Summer
Foliage Color: Green
Foliage Shape: Grassy
Emphasizing the beauty of your yard with Sea Thrift ‘Alba’ involves strategic placement to leverage its compact growth and seasonal color. Planted in groups, it creates a striking visual impact, with white flowers that seem to float above the garden bed, attracting pollinators and adding vibrancy to the landscape.
Integrating Sea Thrift ‘Alba’ alongside other drought-tolerant plants forms a cohesive, low-maintenance garden that thrives with minimal watering. Its evergreen foliage serves as an excellent backdrop for seasonal flowers, providing year-round interest and texture. In rock gardens, its mounded habit and charming blooms add softness and allure, contrasting beautifully with the hard lines of stones and gravel.
For container gardening, Sea Thrift ‘Alba’ offers a unique option for adding greenery to patios, balconies, and terraces. Its tolerance for varying conditions and compact size make it a perfect choice for accentuating outdoor living spaces with natural beauty. Paired with other container-friendly plants, it creates a lush, layered look that enriches the environment.
Its natural tolerance for salty conditions makes Sea Thrift 'Alba' a stellar addition to coastal gardens, where it thrives with minimal care.
In rock gardens, the plant's compact form and vibrant blooms introduce color and life, softening the landscape's ruggedness.
For cottage gardens, Sea Thrift 'Alba' adds quaint charm and simplicity, complementing the informal, densely planted setting with its delicate flowers.
Border pathways with Sea Thrift ‘Alba’ for a defined, inviting walk through the garden, its blooms gently swaying in the breeze.
Combine it with sedums and other succulents in a sun-drenched rockery for a display of contrasting textures and forms.
Use Sea Thrift ‘Alba’ in seaside-themed container arrangements, where its low water needs and salt tolerance shine, bringing a piece of the coast to your doorstep.
Select our pre-made garden layouts to create a landscape that’s uniquely yours. Simple, smart, and customizable!
As spring arrives, Sea Thrift 'Alba' bursts into bloom, its white flowers standing out against the fresh greenery of its foliage.
During summer, the plant continues to add interest with its evergreen leaves, even after the main blooming period has passed.
In fall, Sea Thrift 'Alba' maintains its mounded shape and greenery, offering structure amid the changing garden landscape.
Throughout winter, the evergreen foliage of Sea Thrift 'Alba' persists, providing much-needed color and texture during the colder months.
Select a sunny spot with well-draining soil for Sea Thrift ‘Alba’, as it thrives in conditions that mimic its coastal origins.
Full sun is ideal for promoting vigorous growth and abundant blooming, although it can tolerate partial shade.
Prefers sandy, well-draining soil but is adaptable and can thrive in a variety of soil types with good drainage.
Space plants approximately 6-12 inches apart to accommodate their spreading habit and ensure proper air circulation.
The best time to plant Sea Thrift ‘Alba’ is in the spring or fall when temperatures are cooler, reducing transplant stress.
Dig a hole twice the size of the root ball, place the plant ensuring the crown is at soil level, backfill, and water well to settle the soil around the roots.
Requires minimal watering once established, but keep consistently moist until then to encourage root development.
A light application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring can support healthy growth and flowering.
Deadhead spent blooms to encourage reblooming and cut back foliage in late winter to early spring to maintain plant shape.
Begin watering as new growth appears, apply fertilizer, and prune any winter-damaged foliage.
Water sparingly, only during extended dry periods, to maintain plant health without promoting root rot.
Reduce watering as the plant prepares for dormancy and apply a light layer of mulch for winter protection if needed.
No special care is needed in winter for established plants, aside from occasional watering in very dry conditions.
Typically, Sea Thrift ‘Alba’ blooms from late spring through early summer, with proper care encouraging a longer blooming period.
Yes, Sea Thrift ‘Alba’ is naturally salt-tolerant, making it an excellent choice for coastal gardens or areas with salty soil.
Yes, Sea Thrift ‘Alba’ is a perennial in zones 4-8, offering years of beauty with minimal maintenance requirements.
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