Arenaria

Arenaria is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, commonly known as sandworts. It comprises a number of herbaceous perennials and annuals native to temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. The name derives from the Latin arena, meaning sand, reflecting many species’ preference for sandy or rocky soils. In horticulture, several Arenaria species are valued as low-growing groundcovers or rock garden plants.

Plants in the genus are typically small, with creeping or prostrate stems, opposite leaves, and small flowers with five petals that are usually white or pink. Many species tolerate drought and poor, well-drained soils, and some are adapted to alpine or coastal habitats. They often form mats that help stabilize soil in exposed environments.

Notable species include Arenaria serpyllifolia (thyme-leaved sandwort), Arenaria grandiflora (large-flowered sandwort), and Arenaria verna (spring sandwort). Arenaria grandiflora is widely cultivated in rock gardens for its showy white flowers; Arenaria serpyllifolia and Arenaria verna are commonly used as groundcovers or may occur as garden escapes in suitable climates.

In taxonomy, arenaria is also a Latin epithet used across many taxa to indicate a sandy habitat. The epithet is not a taxon in itself but a descriptor within binomial names. For example, Mya arenaria is the soft-shell clam, a marine bivalve living in sandy bays. Overall, arenaria signals a connection to sandy environments rather than a single, unified species.