Fragrant Verbena Abronia fragrans
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Abronia fragrans var. glaucenscens
- Abronia latifolia
- Abronia turbinata
- Abronia villosa
- Phonetic Spelling
- a-BRO-nee-uh FRAY-granz
- Description
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Fragrant sand-verbena is a herbaceous perennial in the four o'clock family (Nyctaginaceae), a family distinguished by its habit of flowering late in the day. The plant is typically found in dry sandy soils, woodlands, open areas, sandy plains, meadows and pastures at elevations of 1,300 to 6,500 feet in the central to western United States.
The plant grows 1 to 3 feet tall and has an upright to sprawling habit. It prefers part shade in dry sandy well-drained soils. It is very drought-tolerant.
It sprawls along the ground with sticky hairy stems and has upright flower stems with showy balls of fragrant white flowers that are sometimes green, lavender or pink. The flowers open in the late afternoon, stay open all night, and then close in the morning.
It can be planted in rock gardens where its blooms can attract butterflies. Also used as a groundcover, in night gardens, along woodlands and in native gardens.
Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Abronia
- Species:
- fragrans
- Family:
- Nyctaginaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Native Americans used the Sand-verbena flowers and roots for stomach and bowel problems and, when cooked and ground into a powder, mixed with corn. It was named a ‘life’ medicine that could be used to give one a good appetite and make one fat. A cold infusion was used as a lotion for mouth sores and to bathe hot tired feet.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central United States to Mexico
- Distribution:
- AZ , CO , KS , MT , ND , NE , NM , OK , SD , TX , UT , WY
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract butterflies.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- drought
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Spreading
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Egg-shaped achenes about 0.1 of an inch long, lustrous, and black or brown. The achene is enclosed within a leathery top-shaped calyx base which may or may not be winged.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Showy white, (sometimes, pink, purple or green) heads are 2 inches across and bloom from April to September. Numerous blossoms are held in ball-shaped clusters at the ends of the sticky-hairy, branched stems. Each flower is an elongated trumpet shape – a long narrow tube topped by five small lobes. The base of the tube are pink and the sepals may also have a pink tint. Beneath the flower head, at the top of the stem are five thin yellowish-green bracts. The flowers only open in the cool evening and give off a fragrance of vanilla.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The 3 inch long and 1 1/2 inch wide leaves are bright green, with a reddish tint at the base. They are very hairy especially at the lower surface of the leaf.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Thick sticky stems are covered with short hairs.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Rock Wall
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Insect Pests
