Sea Sandwort
Honckenya peploides
Tap image to enlarge · Wikimedia Commons
Overview
Sea Sandwort forms spreading mats on the strandline and fore-dune, its fleshy oval leaves arranged in pairs along trailing stems. It's one of the first colonisers of bare sand, often growing with Sea Rocket but a little further up the beach. The small white flowers are pretty close-up. Like all strandline plants it can tolerate burial by sand and salt spray.
At a Glance
| Order | Caryophyllales |
| Family | Caryophyllaceae |
| Habitat | Strandline · Fore-dune · Mobile sand |
| UK population | Common on sandy beaches around the UK coast |
| Sefton Coast | Common on the strandline and fore-dune at Formby and Ainsdale |
| Conservation | UK Green List |
Where to See It
Strandline and mobile fore-dune across the Sefton Coast.
Identification
Low-growing mat-forming plant. Oval, fleshy, paired leaves. Small white five-petalled flowers. Sprawling stem.
Viewing & Photography Tips
Look along the strandline anywhere at Formby Beach. Often forms patches of green among the dried seaweed.
Conservation Status
UK Green List
This species has a favourable conservation status in the UK and remains an important part of Sefton Coast biodiversity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What plants grow on the strandline at Formby Beach?
The strandline at Formby Beach supports a characteristic community of salt-tolerant plants including Sea Rocket (Cakile maritima), Sea Sandwort (Honckenya peploides), Sea Spurge (Euphorbia paralias) and Sea Bindweed (Calystegia soldanella) on the fore-dune just behind. These plants are specialised for the harsh conditions of the beach-dune interface.
Related Species
Plan your visit to the Sefton Coast
Marshside RSPB, Formby pinewoods, Ainsdale NNR — practical guides to getting there, what to bring, and the best spots for each season.