Armeria (genus)

Japanese name: アルメリア
Scientific name: Armeria

[Overview]
An evergreen perennial.
It produces many slender leaves in a rosette from ground level, forming a dense mound.
A long flower stalk extends from the center of the plant and bears a ball-shaped inflorescence at its tip.
The flower structure is complex: several small inflorescences of 1–3 flowers each gather in a globe to form a head-like inflorescence.
Each small inflorescence has 3 dry, membranous bracts, and the bracts of the outermost small inflorescences function like an involucre.
Some of these outer bracts enclose the flower stalk like a sheath.
In each individual flower, the corolla is deeply 5-lobed.
It is used as a spring bedding plant; the common one is Armeria maritima, but in recent years A. pseudarmeria, A. caespitosa, hybrids and others are also on the market.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed, by division, or by cuttings.
Although it is a perennial, it may die back unless it is renewed by division every year.
When dividing, tear the plant apart so that each division has at least one root attached.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained, well-ventilated place.
If there is insufficient sun, growth becomes poor.
Its native habitat has a dry Mediterranean climate, so it tolerates dryness, but it dislikes long rains and stuffy conditions in hot periods.
When planting, mix 20–30% Kanuma soil, Kiryu sand or similar into soil for flowering plants to improve drainage.
For alpine species, use sand or soil for wild mountain plants.
For potted plants, from spring through the flowering period water thoroughly when the soil surface dries, and after flowering water only after the soil has dried so that it does not become too wet.
For plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient once they are established.
Apply slow-release fertilizer in autumn and fast-acting fertilizer in spring, and do not fertilize in summer.
If you are not collecting seed, remove spent flowers promptly after flowering.
Gray mold can occur.
Root rot may occur from stuffiness and poor drainage during the hot, humid period from the rainy season through summer.

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