With pretty pommy - pom flush , the drouth - tolerant thrift plant thrives in miserable soil and want no fertilizer .
Also be intimate as " ocean parsimony " or " sea pink , " the thrift works is a tough perennial , unfearing in Zones 3 - 9 , and forebode wonderful spring colouration , especially when position at the front of a seam . Thrift ( Armeriaspp.)flowers range from red to pink to white , although they ’re perhaps most appreciated for their playful pom - pom frame . If you ’re plant penny-pinching in a coastal garden , geminate it with other table salt - tolerant industrial plant likecolumbine , genus Dianthus , or ornamental pasture . The blossoms are also appeal as cut flowers .
This industrial plant is native to coastal climates in Europe and North America — you’ll see it mature wild on the sides of cliffs . The speciesArmeria maritimaowes its name to those maritime climates and is different from moss phlox , also sometimes forebode thrift . The latter is a groundcover , while ocean thrift grows in cluster .
Credit: Denny Schrock
With thrift ’s low lusterlessness of grassy green foliation , this works looks good even when not in flower .
Where to Plant Thrift
Because penny-pinching thrives in harsh , rocky conditions , this low - arise plant adapts well to drought and dry out winds and run to be easy to grow . The perennial ’s power to put up up to common salt spray is another notable adaptation , allowing you to establish it in places that receive saltwater spray .
Thrift grows 6 to 12 inches tall and makes an attractive addition tocoastal garden , which have similar circumstance to its born home ground . It can work well inrock gardens , trough garden , and containers . Plant it in a gay spot with well - draining soil .
Use ocean parsimoniousness as butt against or in wry , sandy beds for a dense , mounded direct contrast to low - grow plants . Be sure to position it where it wo n’t be grow over by taller , spreading perennial .
Credit: Denny Schrock
The penny-pinching industrial plant can be used asground coverfor small areas , but due to their slow scatter , they are n’t practical for large - scale coverage .
How and When to Plant Thrift
Prepare a garden bed in other outflow and scatter parsimony seeds onwell - draining soilafter the last frost of spring . Rake the dirt lightly , but give the seed exposed to sunlight . Keep the land moist until the seeds germinate , which can take as long as a month . While first - year plant wo n’t flower and only have foliage , they ’ll return the next yr with bloom .
When planting nursery - grow thrift plants , organize a bed of sandy soil or any other type of land that render excellent drainage . There is no demand to amend the soil for nutrients ; the thrift plant opt poor soil . Dig a hole for each of the greenhouse plant slightly larger than its container and spaced 6 to 12 inches apart , count on the size of it of the thrift diversity . Place the plants in the pickle at the same profundity they were in their container and backfill with soil , agitate down with your custody to remove tune pocket . urine the arena well .
Thrift Care Tips
Thrift is a low - sustenance plant that needs minuscule care once it ’s establish .
Light
parsimony prefersfull sunfor six to eight hours a day , which encourages the most flowers and dries out the industrial plant after rain and lacrimation . It can also stand part subtlety , but too much shade makes thrift ’s foliage gangly , and the plant bears fewer peak .
Soil and Water
verify you provide thrift withwell - drained soilbecause rot can be a problem when it rest too wet . Do n’t add organic matter when planting and do n’t use any fertiliser . If the soil is clay , add peat moss for improved drainage . parsimoniousness grows in soil with all levels of pH.
New parsimony plant necessitate pretty moist dirt until they ’re established , but they do n’t like soggy territory .
Temperature and Humidity
parsimony needs lots of Sunday , but the sun can come and go sporadically throughout the day as long as it amounts to 6 to 8 hour day by day . It grows well in red-hot atmospheric condition . Drought - tolerant thrift permit most humidity levels , but an extended sentence of high humidness contributes to diadem rot , which kills the entire plant .
Fertilizer
Do n’t fertilise thrift plants . For that subject , do n’t sum constitutional issue to the dirt when they are initially planted . The flora favour poor dirt . The only amendment need might be peat moss if the territory does n’t run out well .
Pruning
parsimony leaf isevergreenthroughout the winter , so it should n’t be cut back to the earth , as with most perennial , otherwise its spring flowers will be affect . In the bounce , habituate hand pruning hook to remove any dead or discredited leafage .
Deadhead heyday as presently as they ’re finished blossom to encourage a second round of bloom .
Pests and Problems
Thrift is mostly disease - detached , and pests do n’t disoblige it . Threats to thrift come from too much moisture in the stain , causing crown rot or root rotting . Rust can also be a problem .
How to Propagate the Thrift Plant
penny-pinching can be circularize by dividing the roots in the spring or free fall . It can also be propagated by harvesting seed .
section : Make thrift look exuberant and full bydigging it up and dividing it , prompting the plant to produce raw increment . The best prison term to divide the works is former spring or early fall when it is n’t actively blossom . Dig up a lump with a shovelful and brush the soil off the roots with your hands . Pull apart the clump to make two or three young sections , each with a portion of roots and foliage . Replant the new sections immediately in moist prepared soil , spacing them 6 to 12 inches aside .
Seed : Toharvest seedsfrom a thrift plant , leave several flowers on the plant until they dry completely . compile them when they start to fall apart . There is no seed drumhead ; each petite flower on the flower head produces a lilliputian , pale - brown seed . Rub the peak head gently and then sieve through the results to see the midget source . They may still be inside the papery bract that take them , but that is OK . They can be sow in like that . hive away them in a dark , cool place until needed .
Credit: Justin Hancock
In former bounce , scatter the seeds in well - drain average or pitiable grime after the last frost , leaving the seeds exposed to sun . Do n’t continue them with soil , but rake the area lightly . Keep the land moist ( not wet ) until the seeds evolve , which can take as long as a calendar month . After the plants pullulate , thin them to stand 6 to 12 in apart , depending on the variety .
Types of Thrift
Armeria Pseudarmeria
Armeria pseudarmeriagrows declamatory than sea parsimoniousness in all deference : Its leaves are across-the-board , it springs up several inch magniloquent , and the flowers are great . geographical zone 6 - 7
‘Morning Star Deep Rose’ Thrift
This assortment ofArmeria maritimahas rich rise bloom that last a long time over a mound of grassy unripe leafage . It grows 6 inches marvellous . Zones 3 - 9
Pink Thrift
Armeria maritima’Rosea ' has medium - pink , testicle - shaped blossoms that move up 6 to 8 inch above grassy green foliage . Remove quondam flowers to keep it blooming . Zones 3 - 9
‘Ruby Glow’ Thrift
Armeria maritima’Ruby Glow ' feature cryptical pink bloom on 8 - inch - tall stalks . zone 3 - 9
White Thrift
Also known as ' Alba ' thrift , this eye - catching assortment bears gross - white blossoms on 8 - column inch - tall stems over grassy foliage . Keep in mind that the flowers do n’t last long . Zones 3 - 9
Thrift Companion Plants
Iris
Named for the Greek goddess of the rainbow , theiris comes in a rainbow of coloring — and in many heights , too . All boast the classic , intricate flowers , which have three upright " standard " petal and three drooping " gloam " flower petal , often in different colors . Check which species you ’ve buy before planting since some prefer alkaline soil while others like acidic soil . Zones 3 - 9
Catmint
Catmint is one of the most brave perennials you may develop . It ’s a proved performing artist during hot , dry conditions , and the silver foliation and blue flower front great most of the time of year . As you might pretend from the common name , catmintis a favorite of felines . They ’ll often roll around in the plants in delight . zone 3 - 9
Frequently Asked Questions
Deer stay away from thrift , but pollinators such as hummingbird , bees , and butterflies are drawn to its colorful flush and nectar .
As thrift matures , it develops a all in spot in the shopping center ( typically a dense mat ) due to age or overly dampish condition . This is normal after years of growth . When this happens , it can be divided and replanted .
Credit: David Speer
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
