Sea Pink, also called Thrift or Lady’s Cushion, is a small evergreen plant. The leaves are dark green, thin and linear which grow in cushions (about 30cm across) or hummocks close to the ground. The flowers are bright pink in round heads on stems up to 20 cm and can be seen from May to September.

It is a Western-Atlantic species and can be found by the coast, on rocky shores, cliff tops and salt marshes. It is poisonous to humans, but the flowers provide nectar and pollen for some flying insects.

According to pollen records Sea Pink has been established in Ireland since glacial-time, 12,000 years ago.

Its botanic name is Armeria maritima, while the Irish one is Rabhan.