SafePlants

No images found for this plant ID: 3168.

Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "3168" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.

Safe for Children?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Dogs?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Cats?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Reptiles?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

spreading sandwort

Scientific Name: Arenaria lanuginosa ssp. saxosa

Family: Caryophyllaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Spreading Sandwort (Arenaria lanuginosa)

Spreading Sandwort, scientifically known as Arenaria lanuginosa, is a forb/herb, meaning it's a non-woody plant that isn't a grass.

Considerations for Pets

  • Some varieties of Arenaria lanuginosa can spread to 12-18 inches wide, creating a mat-like ground cover.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Arenaria lanuginosa (Michx.) Rohrb.
  • Common Name: Spreading Sandwort
  • Family: Caryophyllaceae
  • Synonym: Arenaria patula Michx. (now classified as Minuartia patula (Michx.) Mattf.)
  • Subspecies:
    • Arenaria lanuginosa (Michx.) Rohrb. subsp. lanuginosa
    • Arenaria lanuginosa (Michx.) Rohrb. subsp. saxosa (A. Gray) Maguire
  • Varieties:
    • Arenaria lanuginosa var. lanuginosa
    • Arenaria lanuginosa var. saxosa

Distribution and Habitat

  • Spreading Sandwort is native to certain regions, and introduced to others.
  • A mountain species found from the southern U.S. to Peru.
  • Frequently found in avalanche clearings and spruce-fir forests.
  • Grows well in sandy soils.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Grows to about 6 inches tall and spreads to about 12 inches wide. Some varieties spread to 12-18 inches wide.
  • Bears one-inch white flowers with 5 petals.
  • Forms a prostrate, neatly spreading mat of tiny, lance-shaped leaves.
  • Blunt-leaf Sandwort spreads primarily vegetatively through rhizomes, often forming a dense tangle of plants.

Ecological Role

  • Can form a dense mat, potentially impacting surrounding plant life.

Quirky Facts

  • Spreading Sandwort is sometimes referred to as a cousin of the popular Dianthus genus.
  • It's considered relatively unknown to many gardeners despite its desirable qualities.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • It's a popular plant for edging paths and growing between flagstones.

Further Information

  • Dave's Garden provides a community for sharing tips and ideas for gardens, along with seeds and plants.
  • Discover Life offers information on the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Arenaria lanuginosa.
  • Wikimedia Commons hosts images, including one titled "Arenaria lanuginosa, the Spreading Sandwort (9364622107).jpg."