The sand plant is an amazing way to bring a flower that grows in the desert into your home. Also called the desert sand verbena plant, the sand plant is a soft-haired, sticky plant that typically has bright pink or bright purple flowers in the shape of a trumpet.
It is closely related to the lantana plant and often gets mistaken for it.
The sand plant belongs to the Abronia family, of which there are about 20 species, and the four o’clock family, plants that open and bloom later in the day, of which there are a few hundred.
While it grows best in the southwestern desert regions of the Americas and along the Pacific Coast, the sand plant can be a lovely pop of color in your home or office.
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A Sand Plant Is Good for Homes and Offices
When potted, the sand plant will grow like a small bush, taking up a fair amount of space, so it will bring attention to itself in a bright corner or under a window.
It is quite rare to see a sand plant indoors, though it can be done with a fair amount of attention and care, so it will be a conversation piece in your home. It also tends to bloom for several months, starting in the late winter and remaining bright and colorful well into the late summer.
And while all plants can be said to purify the air in its space to some extent, the Abronia plants, and specifically these verbena plants, are also known for their medicinal use.
When ground with corn, the verbena was consumed by Native Americans to relieve stomach cramps. These plants were also used in salves and lotions to alleviate skin conditions.
Are Sand Plants Good for the Feng Shui Flow of a Room?
The verbena sand plant also brings positive feng shui energy to the flow of any space through its lush vibrancy, which relates to good health, and through its aromatics, which is ideal for relaxation and calm.
The greens of the leaves relate to wealth and prosperity, and the purple flowers are another indication of a prosperous future, so you can think of the sand plant as a blessing on your home or office.
To learn more about establishing feng shui and flow in your home or office, check out the master class article on how to use feng shui.
Are Sand Plants Easy to Grow and Maintain?
The sand plant is easy to grow and maintain; after all, it is a plant that thrives in the desert. The only requirement of the plant owner is to try to simulate as best you can its natural environment.
The Abronia will thrive in a cool, dry environment, like evenings in the desert.
How Do Sand Plants Grow?
Sand verbena can reach heights of 25 cm with its fragrant, colorful flowers.
It needs full sun, a light, sandy soil, and typically takes 20 days for germination when grown from a seedling.
Sand plants are best planted or started in autumn and allowed to grow during the winter for blooming in February.
Also note the sand plant will not tolerate overcrowding or poor air circulation.
What Kind of Soil Does a Sand Plant Need?
The best potting soil for a sand plant is light and sandy for good drainage and semi-regular watering.
You can plant the Abronia in peat pots and place rocks or pebbles at the bottom.
You can amend the potting soil with compost.
How Much Light Does a Sand Plant Need?
The sand verbena wants plenty of light, at least eight and up to 10 hours of full sun daily.
Indoors, that means keep it near a window, but be careful not to allow the sun to burn your flowers or leaves as the window can act as a magnifier of the hot, summer sun.
Getting the right amount of direct light may take some experimentation with placement.
How Much Water Does a Sand Plant Need?
The verbena sand plant calls for about an inch of water per week during the warmer months. It will not stand for soggy soil, so get really good at measuring your soil with your fingers.
To measure the moisture of your soil, stick your fingers in the soil. If it is dry, you can water it to the point of dripping from the bottom of the pot – but not soaking.
If you still feel moisture, let the plant be.
Take a look at this article on watering mistakes you’re making that are killing your plants for more tips.
Other Conditions that Are Important to a Sand Plant
During spring and summer, you can fertilize your sand plant with a slow-release fertilizer once a month.
The plant will go dormant during colder months, so pay attention to the cycles of the seasons for the sand plant.
When flowering slows down as late summer and early fall come on, you can cut back the verbena tips by about ¼ inch and fertilize and water thoroughly one more time before the winter sets in.
You should not have to worry about diseases or pests indoors as long as you keep your soil dry enough. It is overwatering and soggy soil that will bring on pestilence.
Also watch for powdery mildew on your leaves, which can occur if the plant does not get proper air circulation.
Sand Plant Decorating Ideas
The best location for your sand plant is under a window in its own pot on a table as a decorative piece or in a corner, where the stems will hang down like vines.
This plant is a desert and Pacific Ocean coastal plant, so it will add to that element in any home.
Think of dry, rocky soil areas and decorate accordingly. If you have a succulent garden or a beach theme going, this plant will accentuate your vibe.
Because it is so colorful and blooms for so long during the year, consider a muted-color pot, like a clay pot, so as not to overwhelm the color scheme and detract from the plant’s natural beauty.
Do Fake Sand Plants Look Real?
If you, like so many of us, struggle to keep plants alive, then you might consider a fake sand plant, which can look just as real as a live one.
Artificial plants are certainly having a moment right now, so you can find a good quality fake sand plant for a great price.
And because this plant is not the easiest to keep alive, and if you’re worried about killing this beautiful plant, you can always start out with a fake one instead. Check out my piece on whether artificial plants and flowers are tacky.
Either way, you can’t go wrong bringing a sand plant into your home or office.
Do you already have a sand plant plant? How do you decorate your home or office with it? Tell me about your experience with the sand plant in the comments below.
