Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Nyctaginaceae

Genus:

Abronia

Species:

Abronia macrocarpa

USDA Symbol:

ABMA5

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb

Height:

15 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

may,jun,jul,aug,sep

Bloom Colors:

pink, magenta, purple

Ground Cover:

Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

bees, native pollinators, sphingid moths

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fragrant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Tolerates periodic fire typical of prairie ecosystems. Resprouts from perennial taproot after top growth is burned.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil

pH:

6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

native to sandy prairies and open areas

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days

Scarification:

Seed coat scarification required before sowing

Germination Time:

14–30 days

Notes:

Seeds have thick, hard coat requiring scarification. Cold-moist stratification improves germination rates. Fresh seed germinates best.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI