Armeria ‘Nifty Thrifty’
Armeria ‘Nifty Thrifty’ is a charming and compact evergreen perennial that combines delightful pink blooms with eye-catching variegated foliage. A sport of the classic sea thrift, this variety stands out for its cream-edged leaves and tidy cushion-like form. Perfect for sunny borders, rockeries, containers, and coastal gardens, it’s low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, and a brilliant performer in poor soils.
Quick Facts
Type: Evergreen perennial
Common Name: Sea Thrift, Sea Pink
Flower Colour: Pink
Foliage: Green with cream edges (variegated)
Height: 15cm (0.5ft)
Spread: 15cm (0.5ft)
Flowering Time: March to May
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 or gritty soils; dislikes wet or heavy ground
Soft Pink Blooms on Neat Stems
From late spring to midsummer, Armeria ‘Nifty Thrifty’ produces clusters of soft pink, ball-shaped flowers held on slender stems above the foliage. The blooms add a gentle splash of colour and blend beautifully with other plants in alpine beds, borders, and container displays. Regular deadheading will help extend the flowering period.
Distinctive Variegated Foliage
What sets this variety apart is its attractive variegated leaves. The grassy, evergreen foliage is edged with a creamy-white margin, creating interest and texture throughout the year. Even when not in bloom, the foliage provides a neat and decorative ground cover that brightens up gravel gardens, pots, or rockeries.
Compact and Low-Maintenance
Forming a tight, cushion-shaped mound, ‘Nifty Thrifty’ is perfect for small garden spaces, edging paths, or planting between paving slabs. It stays compact and neat without the need for constant pruning, making it ideal for low-maintenance or time-poor gardeners.
Drought-Tolerant and Ideal for Coastal Sites
As a true sea thrift, Armeria ‘Nifty Thrifty’ thrives in poor, free-draining soils and full sun. It is highly tolerant of dry conditions and is particularly suited to coastal gardens, raised beds, and exposed positions where other plants might struggle. Once established, it needs very little water or attention.
Great for Pollinators
The pink flowers are rich in nectar and highly attractive to bees and butterflies, making this variety a lovely addition to wildlife-friendly planting schemes. Its early to mid-summer blooms provide a valuable food source when pollinators are most active.
Growing Tips
Watering: Water thoroughly during the first few weeks after planting. Thereafter, water only in very dry weather.
Feeding: Not usually necessary in open soil. In containers, feed lightly in early spring.
Pruning: Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms. Tidy up foliage in early spring if needed.
Potted: Performs well in pots and troughs with gritty, well-drained compost.
Propagation: Easy to divide in spring or autumn. Can also be grown from seed, though foliage may not come true to type.
Hardy and Reliable
Armeria ‘Nifty Thrifty’ is fully hardy across the UK and withstands frost, wind, and salt-laden coastal air. It is generally pest- and disease-free, making it an excellent choice for trouble-free planting in a wide range of garden settings.
Companion Planting Ideas
Pair with other sun-loving, drought-tolerant plants for a colourful and textural display. Good companions include:
These plants complement ‘Nifty Thrifty’ in both appearance and growing requirements.
Why Choose Armeria ‘Nifty Thrifty’?
For gardeners looking to add a bit of flair to their planting scheme, Armeria ‘Nifty Thrifty’ offers a perfect mix of colour, texture, and dependability. Whether you're designing a rockery, filling a sunny border, or brightening a container, this sea thrift variety delivers lasting impact with minimal fuss.
Choose Armeria ‘Nifty Thrifty’ for cheerful pink blooms, striking variegated foliage, and easy-care gardening all year round.
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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