This variety is Eriogonum fasciculatum ?Theodore Payne?California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum). It is a dwarf variety grown like the other 3 types of CA Buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum ?Theodore Payne?. Known by the common name California buckwheat. This common shrub is native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, where it grows on scrubby slopes and in chaparral and dry washes in a number of habitats. It is variable in appearance, forming a patchy, compact bramble or a spreading bush approaching two meters in height and three across. The leaves grow in clusters at nodes along the branches and are leathery, woolly on the undersides, and rolled under along the edges. Flowers appear in dense, frilly clusters which may be anywhere from a few millimeters to 15 centimeters wide. Each flower is pink and white and only a few millimeters across. This plant is particularly attractive to honey bees and is a good source of nectar over many months in drier areas.
There are four recognized varieties of California Buckwheat: 1. Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum or Leafy California Buckwheat, a brighter green variety that grows primarily on the coast and western side of the coastal mountain ranges and is often carried in nurseries, 2. Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium, a gray variety which grows primarily in the desert regions and through the coastal foothills, and is sometimes available in nurseries, 3. Eriogonum fasciculatum var. fasciculatum, or Coastal California Buckwheat, which grows most closely to the coast, and 4. Eriogonum fasciculatum var. flavoviride, or Sonoran Desert California Buckwheat, which grows primarily in the Sonoran Desert and desert mountains.
California Buckwheats are tough and easy to grow, even in very dry conditions. Plant in a well-draining sunny site. It shouldn't need supplemental water after being established, but it will tolerate occasional summer water better than most extremely drought-tolerant California natives. Form is variable, ranging from often open and upright in the foothills, to often dense and mounding closer to the coast. It produces profuse pink to white and cream-colored flowers as early as March that dries to a pretty red rust color as the soil dries. It sheds its dried flowers and a significant portion of its small blade-like leaves each dry season and is an important plant for creating natural mulch. California Buckwheat is a keystone species for sagebrush scrub ecosystems and a great choice for wildlife and butterfly gardens. Low-growing forms of both Leafy Green Buckwheat and Interior California Buckwheat can be found in nurseries to use as spreading ground covers. Eriogonum fasciculatum 'Theodore Payne' can grow as low as just 1 foot with a spread of up to 8 feet. Plant Description
Plant TypePlant Type
Perennial herb, Shrub
Size
1 foot tall
3 ft wide
Flowering Season
Summer, Spring, Fall
Wildlife Supported
Bees, Butterflies
Bee gardens Bird gardens Butterfly host plants
Butterflies & moths hosted ( 15 confirmed, 36 likely * ) SHOW ALL.
Common uses
Bank Stabilization, Bee Gardens, Bird Gardens, Butterfly Gardens, Deer Resistant, Groundcovers
Companion Plants
Many companions including Brittlebush (Encelia species), Sagebrush (Artemisia species), Sage (Salvia species), Manzanita (Arctostaphylos species), Ceanothus species, Yucca species, Dudleya species, and cactus species
Site Type
Dry slopes, often south-facing as a common component of Coastal Sage Scrub. Inland it may be found in Valley Grassland. In high desert areas, it occurs in Sagebrush Scrub and Pinyon-Juniper Woodland. It sometimes occurs in low desert areas as part of the Creosote Bush Scrub.
Climate
Annual Precipitation: 2.7" - 50.6", Summer Precipitation: 0.14" - 3.86", Coldest Month: 23.5" - 61.4", Hottest Month: 43.2" - 88.8", Humidity: 0.43" - 42.79", Elevation: 0" - 11630"
California Buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum almost doesn?t need soil: give it a pile of rocks in full sun and it will probably be right at home. Once its root system is established, it can live for up to 50 years, requiring only seasonal rainfall. It frequently flowers for months on end in the heat of summer after other flowers have called it quits. It supports a diversity of wildlife-bees, wasps, and other insects are attracted to it and will put on a show-beautiful to watch! What?s not to love?! VERY Drought tolerant. Excellent dune binder and cliffhanger. This variety has white flowers that turn pinkish as it ages. It's about 1 ft X 4 ft. tall when mature. This is the ground cover variety. You'll be receiving fresh organic seeds grown in CA. 150 + The seeds are quite small and will be mixed with the seed "cotton" that surrounds them- plant all together.
To plant-sprinkle the seeds on top of the soil in the starter tray, water lightly from the bottom so as not to disturb the seeds. Quick germination within 2 weeks. Transplant when large enough to handle and then set out a few weeks later.) We love our mother plant. It is growing next to our community garden about 10 blocks from the ocean in San Francisco. It is about 10 years old and it's covered with blooms currently. It attracts so many varieties of bees wasps and other insects. It's a sight to see. Birds and other animals love its cover as well. Give it lots of room and it will thrive. I'm starting some new plants now (8-23) and will transplant those into individual containers shortly and plan on planting out some new plants soon. PS As you have noticed the seeds are very very tiny. Just sprinkle the chaff and dust and what is in the seed packet on top of the soil and you will see that they germinate within 5 to 7 days! Easy to grow!
Coast Buckwheat (Eriogonum latifolium) is a shrub-like perennial in the Buckwheat family (Polygonaceae). It has oval, wooly white-green leaves with small, pink and white flowers in round clusters at the ends of long, wooly stems. The flowers fade to an attractive copper color in the fall.
Also known as Seaside Buckwheat, it naturally grows on coastal bluffs and slopes, where it receives full sun and all of its water from fog and rainfall.
In the garden, plant Coast Buckwheat on rocky slopes, in crevices, or sunny rock walls. When planted in its natural range, it will not need additional summer water after its first year. Provide part shade and some supplemental water when planted away from the immediate coast.
Coast Buckwheat supports many pollinators, and is an important food source for butterflies and moths. Allowing the flower stalks to remain through winter provides seeds for hungry birds.