Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Red Sand Verbena (Abronia maritima) is a species of sand verbena known by the common name red sand verbena. This is a beach-adapted perennial. Plant native to the coastlines of southern California, including the Channel Islands, and northern Baja California. It grows along stable sand dunes near, but not in the ocean surf. This salt-tolerant plant requires saline water which it receives mostly in the form of sea spray, and cannot tolerate fresh water or prolonged dry conditions. Its succulent tissues are adapted to isolate and store salt. This sand verbena forms a green mat along the ground, its stems sometimes buried under loose sand. It flowers year-round in bright red to pink or purplish clusters of flowers. The mats are thick and provide shelter for a variety of small beach-dwelling animals. This is a rare plant. Its habitat is located in heavily-traveled beach areas, where it is disturbed by human activity.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Size

5 in Tall
2 - 6 ft Wide

Form

Spreading

Dormancy

Evergreen

Calscape icon
Color

Pink, Purple, Red

Flowering season

Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Very Low

Summer irrigation

Max 1x / month once established

Cold tolerance

Tolerates cold to 30° F

Soil drainage

Fast

Soil description

Prefers beach sand. Tolerates saline soil..
Soil PH: 5 - 7

Propagation

For propagating by seed: No treatment. (Emery and Frey 1971). Collect seeds from seed heads after they have dried on the plant. Sow directly in the sand after in Fall or after last frost.

Sunset Zones

17*, 24*

Site type

Sand dunes along the coast.

Plant communities

Coastal Strand

Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

1 confirmed and 3 likely

Confirmed Likely

Lithariapteryx abroniaeella

Euphyia implicata

Lithariapteryx Elegans

Lithariapteryx elegans