Eriogonum (Buckwheat)

Wild buckwheats bring many months of floral interest to Sonoma County gardens when several of the more than 125 species are planted. Numerous selections with flat-headed or round blossoms in yellow, creamy white, pink, or red not only enliven ornamental landscapes, but provide important food sources for birds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators spring thru fall.

What Are Buckwheats?

Most buckwheats are subshrubs—evergreen perennials that develop woody stems from the base.

• They may be pruned to shape when young or replaced after several years when they become rangy.
• Selections may be mere inches or up to 3-4 ft. tall and wide—or larger—with flowers closely crowded or sparsely branched. Most have grayish foliage.
• All thrive in full sun and fast-draining soil. Once established, little to no supplemental water is needed, though appearance is more attractive with occasional summer irrigation.
• Buckwheat blossoms eventually fade through shades of tan, beige, camel, and caramel to rust-red. The striking spent blooms stay mostly upright on their mound of foliage.
• Flower heads may be left or cut back, fresh or dry, to hang upside down for later use in dried flower, foliage, and ornamental grass arrangements. 

Planting

Well-drained soil—sandy, even rocky or gravelly open sites in sun to partial shade—suit different species of these California natives. Native plant nurseries sell a wide selection for transplanting. Nursery tags indicate soil preferences of different species.

• Once you are growing buckwheats in the garden, planting from seed is known to be the best way to reproduce additional plants as they are prodigious seed producers.
• Seeds must be collected from mature plants toward the end of their peak bloom time when flowers begin to shatter. Bag or sweep up seeds fallen on the ground.
• Seeds do not require special treatment; sow in sand or potting mix kept moist until germination.
• Allow seedlings to dry out between waterings and transplant into larger pots once or twice during their first year of growth before setting out in fall as rains begin.
• Avoid planting in heavy shade or where ground becomes soggy in winter.
• Many buckwheats are favored as rock-garden plants.

Garden Favorites

Local and mail-order nurseries carry the most popular species for incorporating into mixed garden plantings or for planting in drifts or hedges as specialty features.

• Red buckwheat (Eriogonum grande rubescens) is a favorite for Sonoma County gardens. It comes into full bloom in mid-June.
  • Plants may eventually reach a mounding form 3 x 6 ft. or may flop and become somewhat prostrate.
  • The flower is not red-red but more of a dark pink-to-crimson, rising above gray-green foliage with pale undersides on sturdy stems ending in 1-in. pompons.
  • Use as a pronounced punctuation of color in a mixed border or massed for a more eye-catching effect.
• Giant buckwheat (Eriogonum giganteum) is commonly called St. Catherine’s lace and is considered queen of the species.
  • This evergreen shrub requires plenty of space, growing 4-8 ft. tall and almost as broad, usually irregularly shaped. Stems become brittle in maturity.
  • Sprays of creamy white flower heads are often more than a foot in diameter. A comparison is often made to giant lace doilies. Blossoms attract bees, butterflies, and other tiny beneficial insects; birds feed on seeds.
  • Gray-green foliage has frosty white undersides, dramatic on its own prior to blossoming when individual leaves are more visible.
• Naked buckwheat (Eriogonum nudum) grows natively throughout California in coastal sand and rocky soils where there is good drainage.
  • The common name derives from tall, thin stems, bare above foliage, terminating in clusters of pale or pink, round flower heads.
  • Plants may reach as much as 5 ft. or more, best in sun or filtered shade.
  • The cultivar ‘Ella Nelson’s Yellow’ develops a smaller profile with low, grayish green foliar clumps and bright yellow flowers on nude stems.

August 2023