# red sand-verbena (*Abronia maritima*) The red sand-verbena is a bright and cheerful flower that grows in sandy coastal areas. Its lovely pink and purple blooms attract butterflies and bees, making it a favorite among nature lovers. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![red sand-verbena](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Abronia_maritima.jpg&width=800) Photo: Joe Decruyenaere, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Abronia_maritima.jpg) ## Appearance The red sand-verbena has thick, fleshy green leaves arranged on creeping stems that spread across the sand. Its vibrant reddish-purple flowers are tiny but grow in dense, globe-shaped clusters, making a striking splash of color against coastal dunes. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Nyctaginaceae - **Genus:** Abronia ## Interesting facts - It creates a "living mat" that helps protect fragile sand dunes from erosion. - Its roots were once eaten by Native American peoples living along the coast! - The bright flowers smell sweet, attracting nocturnal moths for pollination too! - The plant's sticky seeds can hitch a ride on animals or even wind! ## Special abilities - **Sand Anchor:** Red sand-verbena has a deep taproot that helps it anchor firmly in loose sand and find water far below the surface. - **Thirsty Plant:** Red sand-verbena can store water in its thick, succulent leaves, allowing it to survive in dry, sunny coastal environments. - **Salt Survivor:** Red sand-verbena can tolerate salty sea spray and sandy soil, letting it thrive where many other plants cannot. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-30 cm - **Spread:** 30-100 cm - **Flower Size:** 3-5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to Fall, year-round in mild climates - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits fragrant flowers for nectar. - **Pollinates:** [Yellow-faced Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-faced-bumble-bee) (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — Gathers pollen and nectar from blooms. - **Eats:** [Deer Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/deer-mouse) (*Peromyscus maniculatus*) — Forages for fallen seeds on the ground. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [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. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [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. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't pick flowers, so everyone can enjoy them! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify red sand-verbena? 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-verbena? 10-30 cm ### How wide does red sand-verbena spread? 30-100 cm ### How big are the flowers on red sand-verbena? 3-5 cm ### When does red sand-verbena bloom? Spring to Fall, year-round in mild climates ### Is red sand-verbena edible? Yes ### Is red sand-verbena toxic? None ### What is red sand-verbena's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Point Dume State Beach](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/point-dume-state-beach) — California, US · State Park - [Carlsbad State Beach](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/carlsbad-state-beach) — California, US · State Park ## 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-verbena: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-sand-verbena)