good point tim - people once thought tree of heaven was lovely too. ;) it is good to be aware of that issue - invasive plants are a huge problem here in california because so many kinds of plants adapt and naturalize here... maybe investigate it before putting it in the ground to make sure it's not listed as invasive? i just did some googling - and it is listed as invasive in some places. Morning glories are often bad news.... and they take over where natives used to be. All that ice plant between LA and San Diego is invasive - and now the native plants are gone.... I don't mean to be all Debbie Downer but it's worth looking into it a bit further I think....http://www.public.asu.edu/~camartin/plants/Plant%20html%20files/ipomoeafistulosa.html

Hi Danbonsai. Don't believe everything the ecoterrorists want you to believe. That is sandfood, Pholisma sonorae as dephora mentioned. I am one of the offroaders who absolutely love the Southern California dune systems, including the Algadones which we refer to as glamis. Sandfood seems to thrive in the areas the ATVs recreate in with many of us believing the traffic helps to spread the seeds along with a milkvetch whose false endangerment claim shut down many thousands of acres. While we understand direct ATV traffic will damage the top of the plant, there is no denying the plants are still abundant in our Southern dunes and seem to appear more often in trafficked areas verses the closed areas. It is a really neat plant to see in person and one where we generally stop to show the younger kids on the ride.

Sorry I don't know the plant but I think it is real pretty.

Rhapsis palm perhaps? I can't find my glasses this morning!! LOL!