Image to followAI-generated illustrationAmmophila arenaria
Ammophila arenaria
FamilyGenus: Strandhafernative in Germany
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46
Species
interact
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53
Interactions
documented
🐛
7
Host relationships
Species
About this species
Ammophila arenaria is a native grass of Great Britain's coastal sand dunes. It is a robust perennial forming dense clumps of broad, grey-green leaves, flowering in June and July. Reaching around 73 cm tall, it thrives in full sun on fresh, calcareous, slightly saline sandy soils.
Ecological network
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PollinationLarval host
Ecological significance
Ammophila arenaria is a native component of Great Britain’s coastal dune systems, occurring in low-disturbance habitats. It forms arbuscular mycorrhizal associations and contributes to the characteristic flora of calcareous, slightly saline sandy shores. The species is not considered threatened.
Annual cycle
Flowers in June and July.
Standort & Merkmale
Light
Sonne
Moisture
Frisch (Mäßig feucht)
Soil
—
Flowering period
Jun – Jul
Bioregion
Continental
Growth form
Gras
Woodiness
Nicht verholzt
Leaf type
Breitblättrig
Plant height
0.728 m
Morphological traits: TRY ID3 (CC BY 3.0) & TRY ID81 (CC BY)
Pflege & Anbau
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Light: Full sun.
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Soil: Sandy, free-draining, fresh (moderately moist) soil, calcareous to slightly alkaline. Tolerates slight salinity.
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Fertility: Moderate nutrient levels; avoid over-enrichment.
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Maintenance: Low; adapted to low-disturbance coastal environments. Suitable for dune gardens or restoration projects.
Scientific profile
Ammophila arenaria is a non-woody, broad-leaved grass (Poaceae) that forms perennial tussocks. Plants reach 0.73 m in height, with leaf blades averaging 1,868 mm² in area. Diaspores weigh about 3.5 mg. The species is a full-light plant (Ellenberg L9) of fresh to moderately moist soils (F4) with a preference for calcareous to basic conditions (R7) and a slight tolerance of salinity (S3). It has medium nutrient requirements (N5) and occurs in habitats with a low disturbance severity (0.43). Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) associations are formed. Flowering takes place in June and July. In Great Britain, Ammophila arenaria is native to coastal sand dunes and is not currently considered threatened (Red List *).
Pollinators & visitors
39 Arten interagieren mit dieser Pflanze
Heteropterus morpheusCarterocephalus silvicolaCarterocephalus palaemonPelopidas thraxBorbo borbonicaGegenes nostrodamusOchlodes sylvanusHesperia commaThymelicus hyraxThymelicus sylvestrisThymelicus lineolaCoenonympha phryneCoenonympha oedippusCoenonympha dorusCoenonympha pamphilusCoenonympha amaryllisCoenonympha glycerionCoenonympha corinnaCoenonympha leanderCoenonympha heroCoenonympha arcaniaKirinia roxelanaKirinia climeneLopinga achinePararge xiphioidesPararge aegeriaLasiommata maeraLasiommata deidamiaLasiommata paramegaeraMelanargia russiaeMelanargia larissaMelanargia lachesisMelanargia galatheaMelanargia inesMelanargia pherusaMelanargia occitanicaHipparchia fatuaHipparchia statilinusHipparchia fidia
Host relationships
7 species use this plant as a host
Hipparchia semeleLasiocampa trifoliiActebia praecoxLuperina testaceaMythimna l-albumEuthrix potatoriaOrthosia opima
Sources & data origin
•Cook et al. (2025) UK Butterfly & Moth Traits (DOI: 10.5285/dbc7cc17-cbbd-49dd-bab4-8e8855768d66)
•Middleton-Welling_2020
•FloraWeb / BfN
•EIVE 1.0 — Dengler et al. (2023), DOI: 10.3897/VCS.98324 (CC BY 4.0)
•GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — GBIF Secretariat (2024), DOI: 10.15468/39omei (CC BY 4.0)
•TRY Categorical Traits (ID3) — Kattge et al. (2012), DOI: 10.17871/TRY.3 (CC BY 3.0)
•TRY Global Spectrum (ID81) — Díaz et al. (2016/2021), DOI: 10.17871/TRY.81 (CC BY)
•Govaerts R et al. (2025) — World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) v14. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. DOI: 10.34885/xs7h-ze42 (CC BY 4.0)
All data is licensed under CC BY 4.0, CC0, or compatible terms. Attribution according to license conditions. Full source overview →