Abronia fragrans (Fragrant Sand Verbena)
Fragrant Sand Verbena, Snowball Sand Verbena, Sweet Sand Verbena, Prairie Snowball, Sand Verbena, Heart's Delight
Sweetly fragrant, Abronia fragrans (Fragrant Sand Verbena) is an upright or sprawling herbaceous perennial adorned with showy snowballs, 3 in. across (7 cm), packed with 25-70 funnel-shaped flowers. Blooming from spring through early fall, the vanilla scented flowers are usually white, but are sometimes green, lavender or pink. Borne atop sticky hairy stems, they open in the late afternoon, remain open all night and then close in the morning. They attract butterflies and rise above the foliage of bright green, wavy-margined, hairy leaves. Native to sandy soils, this southwestern plant can be planted as a showy groundcover, in rock gardens or at the foreground of the perennial border.
- Grows up to 1-3 ft. high (30-90 cm) and 1-3 ft. wide (30-90 cm).
- Performs best in part shade in sandy, dry, well-drained soils. Drought tolerant.
- Great for rock gardens, rocky hillside, meadows, prairies, savannas, woodlands edge, sandy plains, native plant gardens.
- Virtually pest and disease free.
- Propagate by fall-sown seed in mild-winter areas.
- Native from Arizona to Texas, north to Canada.
Buy Abronia fragrans (Fragrant Sand Verbena)
Requirements
Hardiness | 4
– 8 |
---|---|
Plant Type | Perennials |
Exposure | Partial Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Early,Mid,Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall |
Height | 1' – 3' (30cm – 90cm) |
Spread | 1' – 3' (30cm – 90cm) |
Spacing | 12" – 36" (30cm – 90cm) |
Water Needs | Low |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | United States, Midwest, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Southwest, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas |
Tolerance | Drought |
Attracts | Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Ground Covers |
Garden Styles | Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
Arches National Park, Amy Washuta, Flickr
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Requirements
Hardiness | 4
– 8 |
---|---|
Plant Type | Perennials |
Exposure | Partial Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Early,Mid,Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall |
Height | 1' – 3' (30cm – 90cm) |
Spread | 1' – 3' (30cm – 90cm) |
Spacing | 12" – 36" (30cm – 90cm) |
Water Needs | Low |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | United States, Midwest, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Southwest, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas |
Tolerance | Drought |
Attracts | Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Ground Covers |
Garden Styles | Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |