Desert sand verbena
Abronia villosa
Last reviewed: August 2026

Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
4"–10" H × 12"–36" W
Bloom
Feb, Mar, Apr, May
Native to
AZ, CA, NV, UT
Pollinators
moths, bees
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 431 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaA low, sprawling annual with sticky, hairy stems and rounded clusters of fragrant pink flowers that carpet desert sand after seasonal rains.
Wildlife value
Fragrant evening flowers attract hawkmoths and other night-flying pollinators.
Common questions
- How much sun does Desert sand verbena need?
- Desert sand verbena grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Desert sand verbena bloom?
- Desert sand verbena blooms in February, March, April, and May.
- Where is Desert sand verbena native?
- Desert sand verbena (Abronia villosa) is native to AZ, CA, NV, UT, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- What pollinators does Desert sand verbena attract?
- Desert sand verbena draws moths and bees.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Ready to grow Desert sand verbena? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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