Dune Treasures from Seed

Guess what? Even at the beach, there is more to grow than beachgrass. A backyard dune with all the salt spray, blowing dry sand, and ferocious Oregon Coast winds can’t stop these native dune flowering perennials that not only survive but thrive to support a bevy of beneficial insects, moths, butterflies, bees, birds, and beetles. It is best to grow these fast-growing gems from seed sown in fall. Seed can be hand-collected locally or sometimes purchased on Etsy or other plant seed source websites. It helps to give a little water the first growing season to promote lush growth, but otherwise fully drought tolerant. Now you know, what are you waiting for?

Yellow Sand Verbena

Abronia latifolia

One of the first plants to show up in un-stabilized blowing dune sand so a great starter plant for anyone with a backyard dune to try. Ground-hugging cheerful perennial and host plant for the caterpillar of the sand dune moth, spotted moth, and the yellow woolly bear moth. It is also host in combination with silver beachweed (Ambrosia chamissonis) to the Oregon plant bug a species of concern to the Xerces society. Beguiles passerbyer’s with a sweet and spicy aroma similar to ginger and cardamon. The root was an Indigenous food source comparable in taste and sweetness to sugar beets.

Silver Beachweed

or Beach Bur

Ambrosia chamissonis

Semi-evergreen perennial with blue foliage and chartreuse flowers that attracts many beneficial insects and pollinators. Bears seeds that are a vital winter food source for many local bird species. A fragrant medicinal plant known for its strength and healing properties.

Seaside Daisy

Erigeron glaucus

A ray of sunshine in the coastal fog. Another cutie beloved by pollinators and gardeners alike. Plant this useful groundcover where it can room to spread and enjoy flowers all spring and summer, and even into fall with with deadheading. Can be grown from seed or plants found in nurseries. Ranges in bloom color from pink to purple.

Silky Beach Pea

Lathyrus littoralis

Wild dune pea found from B.C. to California.

Pearly Everlasting

Anaphalis margaritacea

Coast Buckwheat

Eriogonum latifolium

Beautiful chalky silver leaves and antique pink flowers that fade to a striking rust color this classy gal is possibly historically native to the Oregon Coast, but nowadays typically found amidst the dunes of Humboldt County and in the San Francisco Bay area. We have grown from seeds started in flats and transplanted out in the spring with much success. May need protection from deer and rabbits, but worth it! Important food source for butterflies and moths. Don’t cut back spent flowers as food source for birds in winter months when little else is available.

Beach Primrose or Beach Suncup

Camissonia cheiranthifolia

Found on unstable sandy hillocks tucked within the back dunes. Typical ranges is from southern Oregon to Baja, but seen in the wild as far north as Pacific city. Beloved by the large bumblebee. Often short-lived due to frosts but lives on through seedlings.

European beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria) and American beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata) were planted in the early 20th century to help stabilize our blowing beach sand. Presently, these species are considered invasive and have even cross-bred with each other to create a new variety that grows potentially more aggressively. Without the planting of the species, however, the Oregon Coast would look much different and many beachfront home sites would not be buildable. Consider planting our native dune grass (Leymus or Elymus mollis) and a mix of seeded in flowering perennials as a alternative.