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Other Names:  Red Leaf Sea Thrift, Sea Pink

Description:

Low mounded tuffs of dark green and deep purple grass-like foliage produce tall stems with rose-colored globed flowers on top; heat and drought tolerant, an excellent addition to borders, beds, containers and fresh-cut arrangements

Ornamental Features

Red-leaved Sea Thrift has masses of beautiful balls of rose flowers at the ends of the stems from mid spring to early summer, which are most effective when planted in groupings. Its attractive tiny grassy leaves emerge burgundy in spring, turning dark green in color with curious deep purple undersides the rest of the year.

Landscape Attributes

Red-leaved Sea Thrift is a dense herbaceous evergreen perennial with a mounded form. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Red-leaved Sea Thrift is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Red-leaved Sea Thrift will grow to be only 6 inches tall at maturity extending to 8 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 8 inches. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Red-leaved Sea Thrift is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers and foliage against which the thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.