Pancratium maritimum
Sea daffodil
Family: Amaryllidaceae · Type: perennial · Not Native
Sea daffodil is a naturalized perennial found in southern California coastal regions, specifically on the El Segundo Dunes near Los Angeles International Airport at elevations below 10 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces white flowers with a distinctive crown extending above the perianth parts. Growing with glaucous stems and leaves, it reaches moderate height with a distinctive bluish-green appearance. Its leaves are broad and somewhat fleshy, typical of coastal dune environments. The fruit is nearly spherical with subtly triangular cross-sections, reflecting its adaptation to the challenging coastal landscape.
Habitat: Coastal dunes
Bloom period: Jun-Jul
Elevation: < 10 m
Bioregions: SCo (El Segundo Dunes, just w of Los Angeles International Airport, site of former subdivision)
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.