Sabulina pusilla
Annual sandwort
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Sabulina pusilla (Annual sandwort) is a native California herb in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by distinctive small size and reduced/absent petals.
Annual sandwort is a California native annual found in the North Coast, North Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada, San Joaquin Valley, Central Western, Western Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges in plains, open pine forest, and chaparral slopes at elevations below 2,400 meters. Flowering from spring to summer, this delicate plant produces tiny white to pale flowers less than 3.5 millimeters long. Growing with slender, thread-like stems 1 to 5 centimeters tall, it spreads in an open, flexible form with green stems that are completely smooth. Its leaves are extremely narrow, awl-shaped to lance-like, measuring just 1.5 to 5 millimeters long and less than 1.5 millimeters wide, with a single faint vein running through each leaf. Its tiny seeds are dark purple-brown, measuring just 0.4 to 0.7 millimeters with a thick margin.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; distinctive small size and reduced/absent petals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Plains, open pine forest, chaparral slopes
Elevation: < 2400 m
California counties: Kern, Monterey, Siskiyou, Tuolumne, Fresno, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Stanislaus, Tulare, Ventura, San Bernardino, Tehama, Santa Clara, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Del Norte, San Benito, Mariposa, Humboldt, Alameda, Lake, Trinity, Santa Barbara, Butte
Outside California: to Washington, Colorado
Bloom period
Sabulina pusilla blooms Spring-summer.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sabulina pusilla native to California?
Yes. Sabulina pusilla is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sabulina pusilla bloom?
Sabulina pusilla blooms Spring-summer.
Where in California does Sabulina pusilla grow?
Sabulina pusilla occurs in Kern, Monterey, Siskiyou, Tuolumne, Fresno, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego and other counties, at elevations of < 2400 m.
What plant family does Sabulina pusilla belong to?
Sabulina pusilla is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Sabulina.
What habitat does Sabulina pusilla grow in?
Sabulina pusilla grows in Plains, open pine forest, chaparral slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.