Armeria maritima ‘Armada Rose’
Armeria maritima ‘Armada Rose’ is a compact, evergreen perennial that offers months of soft pink colour and neat, grassy foliage. Perfect for small spaces, dry borders, containers, and coastal gardens, this hardy sea thrift brings long-lasting interest and charm with very little upkeep. With its cushion-forming habit and cheerful blooms, it's a fantastic choice for sunny spots where other plants might struggle.
Quick Facts
Type: Evergreen perennial
Common Name: Sea Thrift, Sea Pink
Flower Colour: Soft rose-pink
Height: 20cm (0.7ft)
Spread: 20cm (0.7ft)
Flowering Time: May to August
Hardiness: Hardy in the UK down to temperatures of -15 to -10 degrees Celcius (RHS hardiness rating H5)
Position: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained, sandy, gritty or poor soils; dislikes wet or heavy ground
Soft Rose Blooms Through the Season
Armeria ‘Armada Rose’ produces a long succession of rounded, rose-pink flower heads on slender stems, rising gracefully above its compact green foliage. These cheerful blooms appear from late spring into early autumn, especially when faded flowers are removed regularly. The soft pink tones are easy to pair with other garden colours and bring gentle warmth to sunny spots.
Compact and Neat Growth
This variety forms a tidy, low-growing mound of fine, grassy evergreen foliage that stays neat and compact all year round. Its controlled habit makes it ideal for front-of-border planting, path edging, rock gardens, or containers where space is at a premium. It won’t spread aggressively or outgrow its position.
Evergreen Foliage for Year-Round Interest
Outside the flowering season, ‘Armada Rose’ continues to add structure and texture with its evergreen, grass-like leaves. This dense mat of foliage not only looks attractive through winter but also helps suppress weeds in smaller planting areas.
Thrives in Dry, Sunny Conditions
A naturally hardy and drought-tolerant plant, Armeria ‘Armada Rose’ is ideal for challenging garden spots. It thrives in poor, free-draining soil and full sun, making it especially well-suited to coastal gardens, gravel borders, raised beds, and containers. It is a great performer in areas with little rainfall or limited maintenance.
Supports Bees and Pollinators
The nectar-rich flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects. Planting ‘Armada Rose’ supports garden biodiversity and adds wildlife value to ornamental borders and naturalistic planting schemes.
Growing Tips
Watering: Water regularly while establishing. Once established, it copes well with dry conditions and only needs occasional watering in very dry spells.
Feeding: Feeding is rarely needed in open ground. In pots, a balanced liquid feed in early spring may encourage more blooms.
Pruning: Deadhead spent flowers to extend flowering. Tidy up foliage in early spring if needed.
Potted: Ideal for troughs, stone pots or shallow containers using free-draining, gritty compost.
Propagation: Easily propagated by division in spring or autumn, or from seed.
Hardy and Low Maintenance
Fully hardy across the UK, Armeria ‘Armada Rose’ withstands frost and coastal conditions with ease. It’s pest and disease resistant, needing minimal care once settled, making it a superb choice for low-maintenance gardens.
Companion Planting Ideas
Pair ‘Armada Rose’ with other low-growing, sun-loving perennials for a colourful and drought-tolerant display. Ideal companions include:
These combinations offer long flowering seasons, excellent texture contrast, and share the same preference for dry, sunny conditions.
Why Choose Armeria maritima ‘Armada Rose’?
For long-lasting rose-pink flowers, tidy evergreen foliage, and excellent performance in tough conditions, Armeria maritima ‘Armada Rose’ is a reliable and rewarding garden choice. Whether used in borders, containers or gravel areas, it brings delicate colour and dependable form throughout the year.
Choose Armeria ‘Armada Rose’ for easy-care colour and compact charm in any sunny garden space.
Buying Alpines from Jacksons Nurseries
At Jacksons Nurseries we lightly trim back our alpines after flowering to ensure that the plants remain neat and tidy whilst in the pot. The more tender the plant the less we cut back to help protect exposed stems from winter frost. Depending on the plant variety we will then prune back further in spring once the risk of the more severe frosts is over.
As a result, depending on the time of year you buy alpines, they may not look like images showing their ‘prime time’ in flower and looking at their best.
Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.
Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email
orders@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.
From late autumn onwards and dependant on variety, there may be very little visible above the soil except for a few cut back dormant leaves or stems. It is perfectly normal for dormant plants to look like this from autumn onwards, they will however burst back into life in spring.
Alpines are a group of perennials that generally grow in rocky conditions at high altitudes.
As for all plants, soil preparation is time well spent. Dig over the area to be planted ensuring that the ground is free draining. If not then you may wish to either consider planting in a different spot or raising the level of the planting area by adding additional topsoil, well rotted garden compost and/or well rotted manure. Add ‘Fish, Blood and Bone’ fertiliser or a high potash fertiliser to encourage good root growth and development.
It’s always a good idea to plant a few of the same plant together, we recommend planting in 3’s or 5’s to provide a bold effect but allowing them plenty of room to develop.
By using this simple guide and a little time, alpines can make an absolutely spectacular difference to your garden.
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