Rubrifolia Sea Thrift (Armeria maritima 'Rubrifolia')
Armeria mah-RIT-ih-mah 'Rubrifolia'

Evergreen Perennial Mounded, Clump-Forming in the Plumbaginaceae Family
A compact, evergreen sea thrift grown as much for its foliage as its flowers — deep purple-red, grass-like tufts topped with globes of rosy-pink blooms on wiry stems.

Rubrifolia Sea Thrift is a compact, evergreen selection of Armeria maritima grown as much for its foliage as its flowers. Its name means “red leaf,” and its dense, grass-like tufts stay a deep purple-red through spring and summer before shifting to bronze in fall. Globe-shaped clusters of rosy-pink to magenta flowers rise on wiry, leafless stems above the foliage in mid-to-late spring, with occasional repeat bloom into summer, especially if spent flowers are deadheaded.

Like the species, it thrives in lean, dry, well-drained soil and struggles in rich or consistently moist ground, where its foliage mats are prone to rot. Individual Armeria plants are genetically self-incompatible in a way that depends on flower structure (heterostyly) rather than separate male and female plants, so each flower is fully bisexual.

Pros

  • Striking purple-red evergreen foliage provides color even when not in bloom
  • Very low maintenance and drought-tolerant once established
  • Deer and rabbit resistant
  • Virtually free of pests and disease

Cons

  • Resents rich, moist soil — foliage mats can rot in fertile or soggy conditions
  • Clumps can die out in the center over time and need occasional division
  • Individual flowers are small; best appreciated en masse or up close
Highlights Grown as much for its striking purple-red, grass-like evergreen foliage as for its rosy-pink spring flowers — a true four-season groundcover.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 6 - 9 inches tall. 6 - 9 inches wide.
Growth Rate Slow
Sun Exposure Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry
Zones 4a - 8b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Container, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Edging, Evergreen, Formal Garden, Full Sun, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Rock Garden, Good for Rocky Soil, Normal Soil, Perennial, Reblooms, Showy Flowers, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Tolerant of Shallow Soil, Well-Drained Soil
Bloom Period April to June
Flower Color Rosy Pink to Magenta
Foliage Color Purple-Red
 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Pairs well with other lean-soil, drought-tolerant companions such as sedum, dianthus, and ornamental grasses that share its sun and drainage needs.
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/13 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 08/24
2023 : 04/13 - 08/05

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!