Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Abronia umbellata (Pink sand verbena) is a flowering and ornamental. Plant native to the western United States. Other common names include Beach Sand Verbena and Purple Sand Verbena. Abronia umbellata is a prostrate. Perennial or annual, with thick, succulent leaves. Leaves are slender, may be either smooth or hairy, and oval ore diamond-shaped. Stems are as long as leaf blades, and often hairy. Plant has pink to purple colored flowers with white centers. Generally found in sandy, well-drained soil in areas with low precipitation, it can become a striking carpet-like groundcover in undisturbed areas after winter rains. Pink Sand Verbena tolerates seaside conditions and is found on the west coast of the North America from British Columbia, Canada to Baja California, Mexico. Sand Verbena is typically found on beaches and sand dunes blooming throughout most of the year. Flowers occur in clusters subtended by 5-8 lance-shaped leafs. A. umbellata frequently hybridizes with other species of Abronia, including Abronia maritima. Its flower is fragrant at night and attracts moths. The foliage can be deciduous based on environmental stress. This plant is a popular native plant for landscaping in California.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Dormancy

Summer Semi-deciduous

Calscape icon
Color

Purple, Pink, White

Flowering season

Summer, Spring, Fall, Winter

Special uses

Groundcover

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Extremely Low, Very Low

Soil drainage

Fast

Soil description

Sandy, well-drained soil.
Soil PH: 4.6 - 7.8

Propagation

For propagating by seed: No treatment. Germination may be poor.

Sunset Zones

17, 17*, 24*

Site type

Undisturbed sandy places, dunes

Plant communities

Coastal Strand

Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

2 confirmed and 2 likely

Confirmed Likely

Lithariapteryx abroniaeella

Lithariapteryx Elegans

Lithariapteryx elegans

Euphyia implicata