Buckwheat

Eriogonum

Eriogonum arborescens ( Santa Cruz Buckwheat )
A long-lived, fast growing, evergreen shrub, reaching up to 5 x 5 feet, that is native to coastal central and southern California. It is great for erosion control.
The narrow leaves, up to 1.5 inches long, are gray-green above, white beneath.
The pink buds open up to 6 inch wide, pale pink flower clusters. The flowers attract butterflies. The attractive shredded bark is gray to reddish.
Hardy zones 7 to 10 in full sun on well drained soil. It requires 11 + inches of rainfall yearly. It is generally deer resistant, clay tolerant ( if no summer water ) and easy to grown.

Eriogonum cinereum ( Ashyleaf Buckwheat )
A fast growing, mounding, evergreen shrub, reaching up to 5 x 6 feet, that is native to coastal southern California. It is great for erosion control.
The ovate to rounded leaves, up to 1 inch in length, are ashy-gray.
The flowers are creamy-white at first, later turning to pink, then deep pink then finally deep pinkish-tan. They are borne on rounded clusters. The flowers attract butterflies.
Hardy zones 9b to 11 in full sun to partial shade on well drained soil. It is clay and very drought tolerant. Requires 14 + inches of yearly rainfall.

Eriogonum fasciculatum ( California Buckwheat )
A fast growing, dense, upright, evergreen shrub, reaching a maximum size of 4 x 8 feet, that is native to the southwestern U.S. ( from northern California to southwest Utah; south into northern Mexico ).
The linear ( rarely lobed near the tips ) leaves, up to 0.7 inches in length, are downy silvery beneath.
The white or pink ( later turning rusty-brown ) flowers are borne on terminal clusters over a long season lasting early spring to late autumn. The flowers attract butterflies and bees.
Hardy zones 7 to 10 ( tolerating as low as 0 F...use northern seed source only in cooler parts of range ) in full sun on sandy or gravelly, well drained soil. It is extremely drought tolerant and requires an average yearly rainfall of just 10 inches for survival. It is often cut back to near the base during late winter in a way similar to Butterfly Bush in order to encourage vigorous new growth.

* photo taken by Jean Pawek @ CalPhotos

'Duro'
text coming soon

* Photo courtesy of USDA NRCS.

Eriogonum giganteum ( Saint Catherine’s Lace )
An attractive, dense, domed, medium-sized, evergreen shrub, reaching a maximum size of 11.5 x 11.5 feet, that is native to coastal central and southern California. The main trunk can be up to 4 inches in diameter. It is endangered in the wild.
The leathery, oval leaves, up to 4 x 2 inches in size, are woolly and gray above, white beneath.
The white to creamy-pink ( later turning reddish-brown ) flowers are borne on huge umbels, up to 12 x 20 inches in size, during late spring to early winter. The flowers attract butterflies.
Hardy zones 8 to 10b in full sun on well drained soil. It is extremely drought tolerant and does not require summer water. It requires 12 + inches of rain per year. It does not like hard pruning and may not always resprout from such.

Eriogonum kennedyi (Kennedy's Buckwheat )
A very low, evergreen, mat-forming perennial, reaching up to 6 inches x 3 feet, that is native to the Sierra Nevada mountains in California.
The foliage is intense bright silvery-white.
The white flowers deepen to reddish-brown during autumn.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in full sun on very well drained soil. Use seed source from high mountains in colder climates.

Eriogonum parvifolium

* historic archive photo

Eriogonum umbellatum var aureum
A low growing, spreading, mat-forming, woody perennial, reaching up to 1.5 x 3 feet.
The leaves, up to 1 inch in length, are gray-green, white felted below. The attractive foliage turns to deep red during winter.
The bright yellow flowers later deepen to orangish-red. They are borne from late spring through mid summer. The flowers attract butterflies.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in full sun on very well drained soil. It is drought and clay tolerant.

Eriogonum umbellatum var polyanthum ( Sulphurflower Buckwheat )
A long-lived, mat-forming perennial, reaching a maximum size of 3 x 3 ( rarely over 1 ) feet, that is native to the west coast from southern British Columbia to Jasper National Park, Alberta; south to California.
The attractive, evergreen foliage is deep blue-green above, white felted beneath. The elliptical leaves, up to 1.5 inches long, turn to deep red during autumn.
The pale yellow flowers are borne on rounded clusters, up to 4 inches wide, during late spring through late summer.
The flowers attract butterflies.
Hardy zones 6 to 10 in full sun to partial shade on light, well drained soil. It surprisingly thrives in the hot humid summers of the eastern U.S. Drought tolerant.

* historical archive photo

var aureum
Reaches up to 15 inches x 2 feet, with abundant, bright yellow flowers that age to orangish-red.
Hardy zones 3 to 8.

'Sierra'
text coming soon

* Photo courtesy of USDA NRCS.

Eriogonum wrightii ( Wright's Buckwheat )
A low, spreading perennial, reaching up to 1.5 x 3.3 feet, is native to the high desert in the western U.S.
Hardy zones 6 to 8.