Abronia villosa
Desert sand verbena
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Nyctaginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Abronia villosa (Desert sand verbena) is a native California herb in the Nyctaginaceae family.
Desert sand verbena is a California native annual found in desert regions at low elevations. Flowering from March to September, this plant produces pale to bright magenta flowers with a white-spotted throat in clusters of 15 to 35 blossoms. Growing with prostrate to ascending stems up to 80 centimeters long and covered in glandular hairs, it spreads across sandy landscapes. Its triangular-ovate leaves are 1 to 5 centimeters long, with petioles ranging from 0.5 to 5 centimeters. The distinctive fruit features a hardened beak and prominent raised veins, with thin wings that may be rounded or angled.
Habitat and range
California counties: San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, Imperial, San Diego, Inyo, Kern, Monterey, Santa Barbara, Orange, Mono, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Benito, San Mateo
How to tell it apart
vs Lantana: Abronia flowers have no true petals (colorful sepals); Lantana has small tubular flowers with 4-5 petals.; vs Calystegia: Abronia has small flowers in dense rounded heads; Calystegia has large solitary funnel-shaped flowers.; vs Verbena: Abronia flowers are in dense rounded heads on trailing stems; Verbena has flowers in spikes.; vs Mirabilis: Abronia flowers lack the cup of fused bracts; Mirabilis has 5 bracts forming a cup around flowers.; vs Glandularia: Abronia has dense rounded flower heads and thick-winged fruits; Glandularia has spiked clusters and dry capsules.
Frequently asked questions
Is Abronia villosa native to California?
Yes. Abronia villosa is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Abronia villosa grow?
Abronia villosa occurs in San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, Imperial, San Diego, Inyo, Kern, Monterey and other counties.
What plant family does Abronia villosa belong to?
Abronia villosa is in the Nyctaginaceae family, genus Abronia.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Abronia villosa var. aurita — Chaparral sand-verbena
- Abronia villosa var. villosa — Desert sand verbena
- Abronia alpina — Ramshaw meadows abronia
- Abronia latifolia — Coastal sand verbena
- Abronia maritima — Red sand-verbena
- Abronia nana var. covillei — Coville's dwarf abronia
- Acleisanthes longiflora — Angel trumpets
- Acleisanthes nevadensis — Desert wing-fruit
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.