silver beachweed
ExplorePlants
silver beachweed
Ambrosia chamissonis
Silver beachweed is a plant that grows in sandy places near the ocean. Its leaves are silvery and can help protect the beach from wind and waves.
Habitat: Coastal areas
Appearance
The silver beachweed has distinctive silvery-green leaves, densely covered in fine hairs, giving it a soft, frosted appearance. It grows low to the ground with a sprawling habit and produces small, inconspicuous greenish-yellow flowers.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderAsteralesFamilyAsteraceaeGenusAmbrosia
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
It's a 'pioneer species,' one of the first to colonize bare ground!
Its pollen, like its cousin ragweed, often makes people sneeze!
Its tiny seeds can drift on ocean currents to find new homes!
This tough plant helps new sand dunes begin to form on the coast!
Special abilities
Ability
Sunscreen Leaves
Silver beachweed has fuzzy, silvery leaves that reflect harsh sunlight, helping it stay cool and conserve precious water in sunny coastal areas.
Ability
Sand Engineer
Silver beachweed can develop strong, widespread roots that grip sandy soil, preventing beach erosion during strong winds and waves.
Ability
Salt Survival
Silver beachweed can tolerate high levels of salt spray from the ocean, allowing it to thrive where most other plants cannot.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 10-60 cm
- Spread
- 30-100 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.1-0.3 cm
- Bloom Season
- Summer to fall
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Mild
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Wind
Ecological connections
eats
Beachweed Moth
Eucosma agricolana
Larvae feed on the leaves and stems of beachweed plants.
eaten by
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
Coastal deer occasionally browse its foliage when other food is scarce.
eaten by
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California Vole
Microtus californicus
Small coastal rodents might nibble on its leaves and stems.
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Evergreen
Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
Salt Tolerant
Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water.
Drought Tolerant
Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Coastal
Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.
Keystone Species
Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is silver beachweed?
10-60 cm
How wide does silver beachweed spread?
30-100 cm
How big are the flowers on silver beachweed?
0.1-0.3 cm
When does silver beachweed bloom?
Summer to fall
Is silver beachweed edible?
No
Is silver beachweed toxic?
Mild
What is silver beachweed's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is silver beachweed pollinated?
Wind
Snap Map
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