Dune Sandbur
Cenchrus tribuloides
Last reviewed: June 2026
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
8"–24" H × 6"–18" W
Bloom
Jul, Aug, Sep
Native to
AL, DE, FL, GA and 12 more states
Dune sandbur is a native annual grass that forms low clumps in sandy coastal areas. It produces spiny seed heads from summer through fall that can stick to clothing and pet fur.
In an HOA neighborhood
Dune Sandbur takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
- Produces painful spiny burrs that stick to clothing and pets
- Appears weedy and unkempt
- Annual growth creates gaps and bare spots
Wildlife value
This grass provides habitat for some specialized insects and small wildlife in coastal dune ecosystems.
Common questions
- How much sun does Dune Sandbur need?
- Dune Sandbur grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Dune Sandbur bloom?
- Dune Sandbur blooms in July, August, and September.
- Where is Dune Sandbur native?
- Dune Sandbur (Cenchrus tribuloides) is native to AL, DE, FL, GA and 12 more states, per the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists.
- Is Dune Sandbur HOA-friendly?
- Dune Sandbur takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Native range data from the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Ready to grow Dune Sandbur? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute yard quiz