Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington along the marine coast; western British Columbia to California, also in scattered locations along coast of northeastern North America.
Habitat: Sandy beaches and dunes along the coast.
Flowers: June-August
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Growth Duration: Perennial
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Pollination: Wind
Culms in tufts up to 11 dm tall, connected by tough, elongate rhizomes.
Sheaths open, smooth; ligules 10-25 mm long, puberulent, acute, usually entire; blades involute, smooth, 2-4 mm broad.
Inflorescence a spike-like panicle 15-30 cm long and 15-20 mm broad; glumes pale, 10-14 mm long, sub-equal; lemma 1-3 mm shorter than the glumes, the callus bearding 2-3 mm long; rachilla prolonged beyond the palea as a bristle 1.5 mm long.
Utricle
Publication: Hort. Berol. [Link] 1: 105. 1827.
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ssp. arenaria – European beachgrass
Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington along the marine coast; western British Columbia to California, also in scattered locations along coast of northeastern North America.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Ammophila arenaria in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database
WA Flora Checklist: Ammophila arenaria checklist entry
OregonFlora: Ammophila arenaria information
E-Flora BC: Ammophila arenaria atlas page
CalPhotos: Ammophila arenaria photos
