Versatile and colorful, the sea thrift (bot. Armeria maritima) decorates rock gardens, heathland, dry stone walls and even graves. The thrift is also extremely easy to care for. You will surely find a nice spot in your garden for this attractive little perennial.
The thrift grows best in the sun
location and soil
The Thrift loves a sunny spot, but doesn't necessarily need a lot of warmth. Even strong winds do not harm it, because many species come from the coastal areas, as the name suggests.
The ideal soil for the thrift is well-drained, sandy-loamy and has a pH between five and seven. With peat or peat soil you can compensate for a too high lime content. Sand or fine grit (€46.95), on the other hand, loosen it up a bit and ensure the necessary permeability.
Water and fertilize
During the planting, which by the way is quite possible during the entire vegetation period, mix some horn shavings (32.93€) and/or mature compost under the soil. Your thrift does not need more fertilizer this year, its nutrient requirement is only moderate.
Water your freshly planted thrift well. Water the plant regularly for the first few days and possibly even weeks afterwards. If the thrift is well established, reduce the frequency and the amount of water. The soil is now always allowed to dry slightly between the individual waterings. Using rainwater is ideal.
The thrift in winter
The beach thrift is considered hardy. It does tolerate temperatures down to -20 °C, but a little winter protection is still advisable. In this way you prevent frost from damaging your thrift. A light covering with leaves or brushwood is sufficient.
The thrift as grave planting
Because it is really easy to care for, stays quite low and forms decorative cushions on its own, the thrift is very suitable for planting and/or edging graves. There are numerous different varieties that flower in different colors, so that you have all the options for individual design.
The essentials in brief:
- sunny, airy location
- well-drained, rather dry and poor soil
- water moderately
- fertilize in spring and after flowering
tips
If you cut back your thrift vigorously after the first flowering, this will give the plant the opportunity to flower again.