Spergularia rubra (L.) J. Presl & C. Presl

Red sandspurry, roadside sand-spurry

Red sandspurry is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Introduced to North and South America, and Australia, it is a common weed in many locales.

Plants: Sprawling plants are 4–12″ (10–30 cm) in size. Thin stems are 1½–12″ (4–30 cm) long.

Leaves: Thick succulent opposite leaves appear in clusters. The linear or threadlike leaves are ⅛–¾ ⨉ 1/32″ (4–20 ⨉ 1 mm). Some leaves are tipped with hard points or spines. Shiny stipules at leaf bases are silvery, lanceolate, and ⅛–3/16″ (3.5–5 mm) long.

Flowers: Pink-to-red flowers appear at leaf axils or stem tips. Each flower is less than ⅜″ (1 cm) in diameter. There are five hairy and glandular sepals, and five oval pink or red petals in the shape of a star. There are six to ten stamens. Flowers appear from late spring to early fall.

Fruits: Dry seed capsules are ⅛–3/16″ (3.5–5 mm) long, and green to tan. They split open when ripe, releasing brown seeds that are ~1/32″ (0.4–0.6 mm) long.

Habitats: These introduced plants are common in sandy human-disturbed habitats, such as meadows, fields, yards, waste areas, or road­sides, hence the common name roadside sand-spurry. They prefer dry to mesic cli­mates.

Online References:

Older scientific or horticultural names

Spergularia rubra description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.

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