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Snowball Sand Verbena Wikimedia Commons
Nyctaginaceae

Snowball Sand Verbena

Abronia fragrans

Desert resilience.

Family
Nyctaginaceae
Genus
Abronia
Native to
Western United States, Northern Mexico
Bloom season
Spring, Summer
Type
perennial herb
Height
0.5-2 ft
Sunlight
full sun
Soil
Sandy, well-drained soil
Water
low
Hardiness
4-9
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Snowball Sand Verbena releases its strongest fragrance at night to attract hawk moths for pollination.
  • Native Americans used the roots of this plant to treat stomach ailments and as a general tonic.
  • It thrives in sandy, nutrient-poor soils where most other plants cannot survive.
  • The flower heads resemble perfect snowballs, each composed of 25 to 75 tiny trumpet-shaped florets.
  • Its sticky stems and leaves trap sand grains, which may help protect it from herbivory.

Color meanings

0

perseverance

1

fragrant beauty

Uses

  • native plant gardens
  • traditional medicine