Desert Sand Verbena
Abronia villosa
Range
Mojave and Sonoran deserts of southeastern California, southern Nevada, western Arizona and northwest Mexico.
Habitat
Sandy flats, dunes and desert roadsides below 1,500 feet.
Flowers
Bright pink, trumpet-shaped, 5-lobed, fragrant flowers, 2 to 3 inches wide, bloom February through May.
Description
Desert sand verbena are sticky, hairy creepers that have flower stalks up to 10 inches long, with stems trailing up to 3 feet. Leaves are oval with wavy edges 1/2 to 1-1/2 inches long. Sand verbena can carpet desert washes for miles after abundant winter rains.
We have an online wildflower field guide that is designed to help you identify desert wildflowers by color, scientific name, region and common name. The pictures are sized to work on the iPod, iPhone, iPad and similar devices. With your iPod or phone you will easily be able to identify wildflowers while in the desert. Links for downloads are on the bottom of the Wildflower Field Guide page.
Photo tips: Most digital point-and-shoot cameras have a macro function - usually symbolized by the icon of a little flower. When you turn on that function, you allow your camera to get closer to the subject, looking into a flower for example. Or getting up close and personal with a bug. More on desert photography.
Mojave Desert Wildflowers - This book is the standard by which all other wildflower books are measured. The author, Jon Mark Stewart, has combined super photography with concise information. This book has an entire color page for each wildflower covered, with a discussion of the wildflower. 210 pages with 200 color photos. More...
What's Blooming Now - Check the Wildflower Reports
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The Desert Environment
The North American Deserts
Desert Geological Terms