# Red Sand Spurrey (*Spergularia rubra*) Red Sand Spurrey is a small plant that grows close to the ground. It has tiny, bright green leaves and pretty pink flowers that bloom in the summer. This plant loves sandy places and can often be found near beaches. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 9 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Red Sand Spurrey](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Rode_schijnspurrie_bloem_Spergularia_rubra.jpg&width=800) Photo: Rasbak, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rode_schijnspurrie_bloem_Spergularia_rubra.jpg) ## Appearance The Red Sand Spurrey is a low-growing plant with slender, reddish stems spreading close to the ground. It has small, narrow, somewhat fleshy leaves and bears tiny, star-shaped flowers that are typically pink or purplish-pink, sometimes white. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Caryophyllaceae - **Genus:** Spergularia ## Interesting facts - Even though it loves sand, you can sometimes find it growing in cracks on city pavements! - Its seeds are so small, you'd need hundreds to fill a thimble! - The name "spurrey" comes from an old word meaning "to scatter," perhaps for its spreading growth! - This tiny plant can sprout quickly after rain, making it a pioneer in barren landscapes! ## Special abilities - **Tough Soil Sprout:** Red Sand Spurrey can grow in very poor, sandy, or disturbed soils that other plants avoid, helping it survive in harsh places. - **Drought Dodger Roots:** Its roots are excellent at finding and holding onto moisture in dry, sandy ground, making it tough in sunny, arid spots. - **Salt Survivor:** Red Sand Spurrey can tolerate salty soils and coastal air, thriving where ocean spray might harm other plants. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-20 cm - **Spread:** 5-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to Autumn - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Annual - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Eaten by:** [European Rabbit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-rabbit) (*Oryctolagus cuniculus*) — Graze on the leaves and stems of the plant. - **Eats:** Eurasian Linnet (*Linaria cannabina*) — Feeds on the small, abundant seeds. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Salt Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/salt-tolerant): Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Red Sand Spurrey? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Red Sand Spurrey? 5-20 cm ### How wide does Red Sand Spurrey spread? 5-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on Red Sand Spurrey? 0.5-1 cm ### When does Red Sand Spurrey bloom? Spring to Autumn ### Is Red Sand Spurrey edible? Yes ### Is Red Sand Spurrey toxic? None ### What is Red Sand Spurrey's lifecycle? Annual ## Where to spot - [Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/drumlin-farm-wildlife-sanctuary) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [South Hadley Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/south-hadley-canal) — Massachusetts, US · Historic Site - [Zoologická zahrada Děčín - Pastýřská stěna](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoologick-zahrada-d-n-past-sk-st-na) — Ústí nad Labem Region, CZ · Zoo - [Caleb Smith State Park Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/caleb-smith-state-park-preserve) — New York, US · State Park - [Charter Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/charter-street-historic-district) — Massachusetts, US · Historic District - [Furnace Brook Parkway](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/furnace-brook-parkway) — Massachusetts, US · Park [View all places to see Red Sand Spurrey](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/red-sand-spurrey) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Red Sand Spurrey: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-sand-spurrey)