Fragrant Sand Verbena

Fragrant sand-verbena is a low, spreading native perennial with sticky, hairy stems and rounded clusters of fragrant flowers. Its mostly white blooms open in late afternoon and stay open at night, bringing color and scent to dry, sandy gardens from spring into fall. ## Landscape character Bright green, opposite leaves grow along stems that trail or sprawl across the ground, while flowering stems rise above them with snowball-like clusters. Flowers are usually white but may be tinged green, pink, or lavender. This combination of scent, evening flowering, and drought tolerance makes the species useful in a night garden, a sunny rock garden, or an open native planting. It can work as a loose, low groundcover around stones or along a dry garden edge, but it is not a clipped or uniform lawn substitute. Butterflies visit the flowers. ## Growing conditions This species is native across the central and western United States into northern Mexico, often in sandy plains and other open, well-drained sites. Plant in full sun or part shade in sandy or loamy soil that drains freely. It tolerates dry conditions once established; water young plants during establishment, then avoid frequent irrigation and waterlogged soil. Extension sources list a broad soil-pH range. Hardiness references differ: North Carolina State Extension lists Zones 7–10, while Denver Botanic Gardens records it hardy to Zone 4. The catalog range of Zones 4–10 reflects those differing references; check local performance at either extreme. ## Species identity and sourcing This record describes the botanical species, rather than a named cultivar or branded selection. Kew accepts Abronia fragrans as a species native to the central U.S. and northeastern Mexico. No commercial breeder or plant patent is identified for this species-level entry. ## Sources - North Carolina State Extension — form, flowers, growing conditions, drought tolerance, and landscape use. - National Park Service, Arches National Park — native habitat, flower colors, seasonal bloom, and evening fragrance. - Kew Plants of the World Online — accepted species name and native distribution. - Denver Botanic Gardens — regional collection record and reported hardiness. ## Maintenance This perennial is low maintenance in a sunny or lightly shaded site with free-draining soil. Water during its first growing season and during unusually long dry spells while it establishes; mature plants need little supplemental water. Remove stray stems only if they spread beyond the intended planting area. Avoid rich, frequently irrigated beds and wet winter soil, which do not match the sandy habitats where the species naturally grows.