Sea thrift "Rubrifolia"

• Height: 10–15 cm (flower stems 20–25 cm)
• Spread: 20–30 cm
• Foliage: evergreen, red-bronze
• Flowering: May–July, pink-red globes
• Light: full sun
• Soil: well-drained, sandy, poor; tolerates salty soil
• Hardiness: USDA 3–8
• Growth: moderate
• Use: rock garden, edging, container
• Data: species and cultivar data (nursery catalogues)

Planting. Plant from April to September (into warm soil, with regular watering). Choose a full-sun, well-drained spot (add sand if needed); space plants 25–30 cm. Dig a hole twice as wide as the pot, plant at the same depth as in the pot and water in well.

Care. Sea thrift needs little care but dislikes wet, heavy soil; it thrives in poor ground. Mulch the soil with 3–5 cm of compost or bark to hold moisture and suppress weeds.

Watering and feeding. Water only in long dry spells; rainfall is normally enough. Too much fertiliser reduces flowering. Feed in spring with a balanced fertiliser and repeat in early summer if needed; do not feed late in the season.

Winter care and pruning. Fully hardy; the leaves stay red-bronze through winter. Remove spent flower heads after blooming and divide the clumps every 3–4 years.