Seasonal Wild Flowers

Thrift

Armeria maritima

Plumbaginaceae

Sea Pink

April to October

It is found on the coast, pretty well everywhere.

See the BSBI distribution map for Thrift

It is mainly found on sea cliffs, shingle and saltmarshes.

It also grows on mountains, old mine workings and, since

the 1980s, by salted roads.

Thrift is a native, perennial herb growing up to 30cm.

The flower heads are rose pink to white and attractive and

up to 2.5cm.

Individual flowers are up to 8mm showing above a funnel-

shaped calyx.

There are 5 white stamens with cream or blue anthers.

There are 5 white, linear styles.

Leaves are fleshy and linear - up to 15cm long, forming

a cushion.

Thrift on limestone grassland, Silverdale, Lancashire

Thrift on Chesil Beach shingle, Dorset

Close-up of a colony

Flowerhead

Close-up of flowers - blue and cream anthers

Linear styles

Round stem and fleshy linear leaves