Spergularia media
greater sea-spurry
Coasts of Europe, North Africa, and temperate Asia
Overview
Spergularia media is a low, mat- or cushion-forming perennial of coastal salt marshes, with prostrate to ascending stems 2-12 inches (5-30 cm) long. The fleshy, semi-succulent leaves are linear and somewhat flattened, up to 1 inch (25 mm) long, often grey-green and tipped with a short point. The five-petalled flowers are white to pale pink, 0.3-0.5 inch (7-12 mm) across, with the petals equalling or exceeding the sepals, a point separating it from the smaller-flowered Spergularia marina. Ripe capsules hold many flattened seeds, most with a broad pale wing. It grows on the upper and middle salt marsh, on muddy and sandy tidal ground and in brackish places. Being adapted to saline, periodically flooded soils, it does not establish in ordinary, non-saline garden ground.
Native Range
Spergularia media is native to coasts of Europe, North Africa, and temperate Asia, where it grows on salt marshes and other saline ground. It has been introduced to coastal sites in North America and turns up inland along salted roadsides.Suggested Uses
Grown in coastal and halophyte gardens, salt-marsh restoration, and gravel or saline ground where few plants persist. Its low mats knit together on bare, brackish soil. It has little use in conventional borders, being suited to saline conditions.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2" - 1'
Width/Spread4" - 1'
Bloom Information
Flowering runs from June to September. The flowers open in fair weather and are visited by small insects, and the winged seeds ripen in capsules through late summer and autumn.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
White to pinkFoliage Description
Grey-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight