Sea thrift is an evergreen flowering perennial in the plumbago family (Plumbaginaceae) native to coastal area of rocky cliffs, roadsides and salt marshes of the northern hemisphere. There are 12 subspecies of the plant that reflect where the plant is growing. Subsp. californica grows on the west coast of Canada and the United States and subsp. sibirica grows in subarctic Eurasia and North America and Colorado. The genus name is Latinized from the old French name armoires for a cluster-headed dianthus. Specific epithet means about the sea or coastal The plants can grow 6 inches to 2 feet tall and spread up to 1 foot. They do well in full sun in well-drained sandy to rocky soils and prefer cooler coastal environments. They are salt tolerant and will grow in soils that have a high cooper concentration. From late spring and sporadically through fall, the plants provide clusters of pink, white or purple flowers that are held above the grass-like foliage. There are several cultivars available. Use these plants in a rock garden, borders or containers. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Too much water will cause root rot. Watch for aphids, slugs, snails, and the fungal disease powdery mildew
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Very Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Rounded; Spreading
Texture
Fine
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Long-lasting
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Thin, grass-like, dark green foliage in a basal rossette. Margins are often finely hairy and the dark green leaves are red-tinged in some species.
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower detail
This plant has bright pink or white, round, balloon-like flower heads with purple papery bracts on scapes in spring from April to May with occasional repeat blooming through fall.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Small dry capsules contain a single seed
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Slender leafless stems grow above the foliage 6 to 18 inches tall.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Europe and North America, Greenland
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Coastal; Container
Landscape theme
Drought Tolerant Garden; Fairy Garden; Rock Garden