Native Plants
Plant Database
Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.
Abronia villosa
Abronia villosa S. Watson
Desert Sand Verbena, Desert Sand-verbena, Desert Sandverbena
Nyctaginaceae (Four O'clock Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: abvi
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
A soft-haired, sticky plant with bright pink, trumpet-shaped flowers in heads that bloom on stalks growing from leaf axils. Desert sand-verbena appears as a mat following winter rains, growing 20 in. across and 3-6 in high. Short, sticky hairs cover both the inch-long, oval, fleshy leaves and the many-branched stems. Erect, 1-3 in. stems bear conspicuous clusters of fragrant, lavender-pink flowers.
Following ample winter rains, Desert Sand Verbena may carpet miles of desert with pink.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: AnnualHabit: Herb
Fruit Type: Accessory
Size Notes: Up to about 6 inches tall by 20 inches across.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Pink , PurpleBloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul
Distribution
USA: AZ , CA , NV , UTNative Distribution: S.w. AZ, s.e. CA, s.w. UT & adjacent Mex.
Native Habitat: Driest desert areas
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Dry, well-drained soils.
Conditions Comments: Can be used as an annual ground cover as it reseeds.
Benefit
Conspicuous Flowers: yesFragrant Flowers: yes
Value to Beneficial Insects
Special Value to Native BeesThis information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
Propagation
Propagation Material: SeedsDescription: Plant seeds in late summer, fall or early spring. Germination may be enhanced by removing the seeds from the papery fruit.
Commercially Avail: yes
Find Seed or Plants
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Bibliography
Bibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. WasowskiSearch More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) CalfloraWebref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Abronia villosa in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Abronia villosa in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Abronia villosa
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-04-18Research By: TWC Staff