Associate the armeria

In a dry garden

The Spanish lawn thrives in somewhat spartan growing conditions; full sun and very well-drained, dry, even poor soil. It is a plant that loves ungrateful and very well-drained, even calcareous, soils. It withstands wind and drought perfectly. Additionally, it requires little maintenance, making it a boon for weekend gardens or those without gardeners! It will naturally find its place in a mineral-dominant garden, adding an elegant touch. You can, for example, pair it with lavenders, sages, and helichrysum in cool mauve/glaucous foliage colour mixes. Also mix it with other equally undemanding and drought-tolerant perennials; woolly wormwoods, Echinaceas, a creeping rosemary, and Cerastium tomentosum. At the back of the border, place ceanothus or buddleias.

In a scree garden, punctuate the scene with a few small, tousled grasses like Stipa pennata or Stipa tenuifolia. Also consider agaves and delosperma for a more contemporary association.

Armeria maritima in good company with undemanding plants: Ceanothus, Stipa tenuissima, Salvia nemorosa ‘Schneehugel’, and Lavandula angustifolia

To punctuate a summer border

In a lush flower bed that blooms all summer, Spanish Lawn will add a delicate pastel touch. Placed in the foreground or scattered among grasses and drought-tolerant perennials, it naturally fits into a rustic, unpretentious pink-toned border where flowers renew throughout the summer. Intermingle clumps of Armeria maritima ‘Vesuvius’, for example, with Achilleas (‘Lilac Beauty’, ‘Saucy Seduction®’, Achillea millefolium ‘Red Velvet’), gauras, Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Blue Spire’, knauties, and scabious, Sedum (Sedum spectabile ‘Herbstfreude’), pastel-coloured summer asters, and Echinaceas (‘pink double delight’, ‘Funky White’) to create beautiful colourful masses.

Balance the pink with the silvery foliage of Wormwoods, Festuca glauca, or Lychnis coronaria, and the metallic blue hue of Eryngium bourgatii.

When planted in groups, it will also form a lovely little bush simply surrounded by small grasses like Stipa tenuifolia or Pennisetums. In this joyful jumble, the armeria will provide a neat counterpoint, forming small cushions.

Armeria maritima, Perovskia atriplicifolia, scabious, Sedum spectabile, and Pennisetum villosum

In dry rockery

Armeria have a cushion habit, allowing them to better withstand winds, cold, and sun. They are stunning for filling the gaps between stones in a sun-drenched rockery, or on the slope of a well-drained bank. To accompany them, choose plants that are not afraid of poor soil and drought, such as succulents, herbaceous plants, coastal plants, or alpine perennials. Surround them with Silene, Dianthus deltoides, Artemisia schmidtiana ‘Nana’, Arabis caucasica, Phlox subulata, or even Houseleeks; they will form low-maintenance flowering cushions.

Also consider other small cushions like Aubrieta ‘Hamburger Stadtpark’, Globularia punctata, and Erigeron karvinskianus. A Cistus will add depth to the arrangement.

And explore our collection of rockery perennials!

Armeria maritima (below) associated in a rockery with some Phlox subulata, houseleeks, Arabis caucasica, and a Cistus

In a border of fresh hues

We rely on the summer flowering of Spanish Lawn to add depth to a border with refreshing hues. For example, alternate clumps of Armeria maritima ‘Rosea’ or ‘Alba’ with its fine greyish foliage alongside Dianthus carthusianorum or Chartreuse Pink, Dianthus deltoides ‘Rosea’, or carnation pinks (Dianthus plumarius ‘Haytor White’). Also consider lavenders, creeping Gypsophila, and groundcover roses in the same pastel tones.

To create a lovely border, consider pairing your Spanish lawn with creeping Gypsophila and some Chartreuse Pinks.

On a a low wall

Sea thrift is perfect for flowering a dry stone wall. The Armeria juniperifolia in particular forms a miniature grassy tuft in spring, dotted with bright pink pom-poms. Choose companions that, like it, enjoy dry and sunny conditions. The Aster alpinus ‘Happy End’, Delosperma cooperi ‘Table Mountain’, Aubrieta ‘Cascade Blue’, dwarf carnations, and wall campanulas will be good partners, taking over the flowering displays.

To learn more, check our advice sheets: how to flower a wall and 10 perennial plants to enhance a wall.

Armeria, Aster Alpinus, wall campanula, Aubrieta, and Delosperma cooperi

In a trough or container

Spanish Lawns adapt well, of course, in alpine troughs, or even in pots where they can be combined with other perennial plants or annual plants. The red pom-poms of the Armeria pseudarmeria ‘Ballerina Red’ for example, will harmonise well with a creeping wormwood like the Artemisia stelleriana ‘Boughton Silver’. In a stone trough or a pot, the armérias also pair well with alpine and montane plants such as Alyssums, Saponarias, Aubrietas, and Helianthemums.

Armeria pseudarmeria ‘Ballerina Red’, Artemisia stelleriana and Saponaria ocymoides