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Field Sandbur

Cenchrus incertus

Last reviewed: June 2026

Field Sandbur (Cenchrus incertus)
Photo: Bob Peterson from North Palm Beach, Florida, Planet Earth! / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

4"–24" H × 6"–18" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Native to

AZ

Pollinators

beetles, wasps

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Central California ValleyCentral California Foothills and Coastal MountainsChihuahuan DesertsCentral Oklahoma/Texas PlainsEdwards PlateauSouthern Texas PlainsEast Central Texas PlainsWestern Gulf Coastal PlainSouth Central PlainsSonoran Basin and Range

Field sandbur is a low-growing annual grass that spreads moderately and thrives in full sun with minimal water. This native grass produces small burr-like seed heads during summer and fall months that can be sharp and stick to clothing or pets.

In an HOA neighborhood

Field Sandbur takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: high. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

  • Produces painful spiny burs that stick to clothing and skin
  • Considered a noxious weed in most contexts
  • Creates safety hazards for children and pets

Wildlife value

Supports beetles and wasps as pollinators during its summer blooming period. The seeds may provide food for some ground-feeding birds.

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.

Does Field Sandbur fit your yard? Open it in Pollinator Patch to check it against your sun, soil, and HOA-conscious filters.

See it in the app

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