California Buckwheat

Eriogonum fasciculatum

shrubView on Calscape

Care

Sun

full sun

Water

very low

Soil

well-drained, poor soils; extremely drought tolerant

Size

1–3ft tall, 2–4ft wide

Bloom

May-Oct · white, pink

Foliage

Evergreen

Deer

Resistant

Container

Friendly

Flowers

Prized

Native Range

Throughout Southern and Central California

Flat-topped clusters of tiny flowers, white aging to rust-pink

Dried flower heads are ornamental; critical pollinator plant

Care Guide

Planting

Plant California buckwheat in full sun with well-drained soil - it thrives in poor soils and tolerates loamy conditions, but poor drainage is its main enemy. The best time to plant is in fall or winter to establish before summer heat. Space plants according to the variety (they range from 1–3 feet tall), keeping in mind that low-growing forms work well as groundcover while taller varieties can be shaped into hedges. This plant is extremely drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, making it ideal for dry Bay Area gardens.

After Planting

Water weekly during the first summer after planting to establish roots, then transition to occasional summer water (no more than once monthly) by year two. Once established, California buckwheat needs no supplemental water - in fact, overwatering is the #1 mistake people make with this plant. Don't be alarmed when it naturally sheds dried flowers and some leaves as soil dries; this creates its own mulch layer. Expect blooms from May through October, and if you want a tidier appearance, you can prune to shape it, but this low-maintenance plant requires minimal intervention.

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Endangered & Threatened Species Supported

Stephen's kangaroo ratDipodomys stephensi

Listed as federally endangered since 1988

Federal: Endangered, CA: Endangered

Bernardino dotted-blue butterflyEuphilotes battoides

Listed under ESA; found only in San Bernardino County, California

Federal: Endangered, CA: Endangered

Mormo metalmark butterflyApodemia mormo

Listed as Threatened under California Endangered Species Act

CA: Threatened

Monarch butterflyDanaus plexippus