Splendens Sea Thrift

Armeria maritima 'Splendens'

Nature Hills Nursery

Vibrant Rose-Pink Blooms on Compact Thrift Plant Perfect for Edging and Rock Gardens
Thrives in Zones 3-9
Grows 1 ft Tall and Wide
Showy Pink Blooms From Late Spring to Late Summer
Drought Tolerant, Salt Tolerant

$16⁹⁹

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Plant Size

Quart Container #1 Container

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: This hardy perennial thrives in full sun, requiring at least six to eight hours of direct light daily. While it can tolerate light afternoon shade in exceptionally hot climates, too much shade results in "floppy" foliage and sparse flower production.
Soil: Splendens Sea Thrift demands excellent drainage and actually prefers lean, gritty soil over rich organic matter. If you have heavy clay, plant it in a raised bed or incorporate coarse sand to prevent root rot, as this plant dislikes "wet feet" during the winter.

Watering Requirements

During the first growing season, water twice a week to help the deep taproot establish itself in your garden. Once mature, Sea Thrift is remarkably drought tolerant and only needs supplemental water during extended dry spells or extreme heat waves. Overwatering or inconsistent moisture in heavy soil will cause the center of the clump to rot and die out.

Pruning Tips

Since this plant blooms on stems produced in the current season, you should deadhead spent flowers throughout the summer to encourage a secondary flush of blooms. Think of it like a light haircut; snip the flower stalks off at the base of the foliage mound once the pink color fades. In early spring, simply comb through the "grass-like" tufts with your fingers to remove any brown, dead blades from the previous winter.

Fertilizer Needs

Use a balanced, slow release fertilizer once in early spring as new growth appears to fuel the initial bloom cycle. Avoid applying high nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer because this forces soft, lush growth that is easily damaged by the first hard frost. These plants are modest feeders, so a single application of compost or a light granular feed is usually all they need for the entire year.

Delivery and Shipping

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Plant specifications
Plant Characteristics	Cold hardy, Compact/Dwarf, Evergreen, Low Maintenance, Deer-resistant, Flowering, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts pollinators, Salt Tolerant, Heat Tolerant, Drought resistant, Container Friendly
Hardiness Zone	4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Sunlight	Full sun
Height	1 ft
Width	1 ft
Watering Needs	Low
Preferred Soil	Chalky, Loamy, Sandy
Growth Rate	Moderate
Growth Habit	Bushy, Compact, Spreading
Plant Life Cycle	Perennial
Blooms In	Spring, Summer
Flower Color	Pink
Suitable Space	Outdoors, Container
Botanical Name	Armeria maritima 'Splendens'
Species	maritima
Cultivar	Splendens
Class	Caryophyllales
Does Not Ship To	AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

Darling Blooms, Tough Splendens Sea Thrift

Electric Rose-Pink Blooms
Fine-Textured Tufts of Evergreen Foliage
Compact Plant Forms Dense, Mounded Tuft
Clump-Forming
Great Early Nectar Resource for Butterflies and Honey Bees
Outstanding Edging Plant, Groundcover or Sweet "Filler" in Containers
Can Be Grown in Urban Conditions

Even beginning gardeners should do well with the rugged, durable Splendens Sea Thrift (Armeria maritima 'Splendens'). Of course, you'll fall in love with the wonderful, clustered, super-bright pink flowers.

But that tough-as-nails nature helps to "seal the deal", too. You can rely on the mound of short, dark green leaves to emerge each spring—no matter what you throw at it.

Splendens sends up 6-inch long stalks topped with globe-shaped blooms in late spring to early summer. Each floriferous plant produces well over a hundred blooms over the course of several weeks in springtime.

Even though the flower display is...darling... you need to remember that Splendens Sea Thrift is one tough customer. It is salt-tolerant and is often grown along the coastline and along the "Hell Strips" between your street and the sidewalk. It handles Canadian-cold planting sites, and flowers in the depths of large cities.

The pink flowers look like Chives and attract butterflies and beneficial pollinators. The strappy, grass-like foliage stays evergreen throughout the warmer climates.

These plants are clump-forming, and won't grow beyond the mature spread listed on the Plant Highlights (even if you wish they would!)

Splendens can tolerate dry soil, shallow, rocky soil, and even drought. Use them in Xeriscaped, or waterwise, plantings as a beautiful small accent. Order yours today!

How to Use Splendens Sea Thrift in the Landscape

Showcase these petite, fine-textured plants along the edge of your planting beds. They'll remain well-behaved, trim, and tidy for a neat "ribbon" of color.

Create a solid mat by planting them 8 inches apart on center. Measure from the center of one to the center of the next.

These plants work exceptionally well for a mass planting to cover bare ground. Add successive rows in staggered, zigzagging rows to make a checkerboard-style planting.

Mulch between the plants and keep it weeded until the clumping tufts grow together. You'll adore the look of this easy-care planting!

Add Splendens as an exquisite "Filler" to your outdoor containers for a touch of whimsy. Try several of them near a Victory Garden to entice pollinators to your veggie patch.

This is an excellent plant for use in rock gardens. it will soften the south side of boulders, and require little care.

Take this idea to the extreme by including durable Splendens Sea Thrift on living green roofs. Or, plant them along your sidewalk to make people in your neighborhood smile.

Commercial property owners, take note! You'll draw the eye of every passerby with a sweet Splendens mass planting near your front entrance.

#ProPlantTips for Care

Give this plant a spot in full sun. It needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day for best flowering. Plant it in well-drained, porous, or even sandy soils that don't retain water for long. Heavy wet soils tend to cause the crown to rot. If you have this soil type, use Splendens in containers or raised beds.

Deadhead the first flush of spent blooms with sharp garden snips. It's well worth the minute or two that is needed, as your efforts will be rewarded with another flush of blooms.

Use a hand rake to gently remove fallen leaves in early spring. Snip winter-damaged foliage back into the base at that time. Deadhead regularly to keep the blooms returning all growing zone.

Full Sun Perennials
Widely Adaptable Any Well-Drained Soil
Moderate Moisture & Drought Tolerant & Xeric Once Established
Very Cold Hardy & Tolerates Salt
Prune After First Flowers Fade - Deadhead For Rebloom

This long-lived plant is bound to become one of your favorites. Order your Splendens Sea Thrift from the expert growers at Nature Hills today!

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Growing Zones 3-9

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Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I water Splendens Sea Thrift and is it drought tolerant?

Splendens Sea Thrift is extremely drought tolerant once established and can handle dry, shallow, rocky soil. Water regularly the first year, then only during extended dry periods. This tough perennial actually prefers lean conditions over rich, moist soil.

Is Splendens Sea Thrift deer resistant and rabbit proof?

Splendens Sea Thrift is generally deer resistant due to its tough, salt-tolerant nature and fine-textured foliage that deer typically avoid. Rabbits may occasionally nibble young growth, but the plant's durability helps it recover quickly. Plant yours 8 inches apart for best results - shop at Nature Hills.

Does Splendens Sea Thrift require regular fertilizing and what type should I use?

Splendens Sea Thrift thrives in poor soils and rarely needs fertilizing. This drought-tolerant perennial actually performs better in lean, well-draining conditions rather than rich, fertile soil. A light application of balanced fertilizer in early spring is sufficient if your soil is extremely poor.

Can Splendens Sea Thrift tolerate salt spray and coastal conditions?

Splendens Sea Thrift is highly salt-tolerant and thrives in coastal conditions where salt spray is common. This rugged perennial is often planted along coastlines and even in challenging "Hell Strip" locations between streets and sidewalks. Plant it as a reliable edging or groundcover in seaside gardens.

Is Splendens Sea Thrift suitable for rock gardens and container planting?

Splendens Sea Thrift excels in rock gardens and containers, tolerating shallow, rocky soil and drought conditions. Its compact, mounded form and fine-textured evergreen foliage make it ideal for container "filler" plantings. Space plants 8 inches apart for solid coverage. Shop at Nature Hills for this versatile perennial.

Splendens Sea Thrift

Armeria maritima 'Splendens'