Tripleurospermum maritimum
sea mayweed
Coasts of northern and western Europe
Overview
Tripleurospermum maritimum is a sprawling to upright perennial of the daisy family, forming bushy clumps 6-24 inches (15-60 cm) tall on coasts. The leaves are fleshy and scentless, repeatedly divided into short, narrow, almost cylindrical segments that resist salt and drying. From early summer to autumn it carries daisy-like flowerheads 1.2-2 inches (3-5 cm) across, each with white ray florets around a domed yellow disk. The fleshy, odourless foliage and solid, cushioned disk separate it from the scented mayweed and chamomiles. It grows on shingle beaches, sea walls, cliff tops, drift lines, and disturbed ground near the sea, rooting in sand and gravel. Native to the coasts of northern and western Europe, it ranges around the North Atlantic and Baltic shores and has naturalized inland along salted roadsides. The plant withstands salt, wind, and drought but is short-lived and often behaves as an annual or biennial on unstable ground. Flowering thins where taller vegetation shades it out.
Native Range
Tripleurospermum maritimum is native to the coasts of northern and western Europe, around the North Atlantic and Baltic Sea. It grows on shores throughout the British Isles and has spread inland along salt-treated roads.Suggested Uses
Grown in coastal, gravel, and wildlife gardens, where the long succession of daisy flowers draws bees and hoverflies. It self-seeds into open gravel and the cracks of paving near the sea.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6" - 2'
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white with yellow centerFoliage Description
fresh 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun on sharply drained sand, shingle, and gravel, and tolerates salt spray and poor fertility. A soil pH from 6.5 to 8.0 suits it, and rich or heavy soils shorten its life. Plants are drought-tolerant once rooted and often self-seed freely on open ground. On stable, fertile soil it behaves as a short-lived perennial, while on shifting coastal ground it completes its cycle as an annual or biennial. Shade and competition from taller plants reduce flowering. It is hardy to about USDA zone 5.Pruning
No pruning is needed. Spent flower stems can be cut back to limit self-seeding, or left to set seed for new plants. Old growth can be cleared in late winter.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons