Anglestem Buckwheat
Eriogonum angulosum
Care
very low
0–3ft tall
Resistant
Friendly
Desert washes and scrub of the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts in southeastern California, 1500-4000 ft elevation
Care Guide
Planting
Plant Anglestem Buckwheat in full sun in well-draining soil - this native annual thrives in the lean, sandy conditions of the Mojave Desert and California's foothill woodlands, so avoid rich or amended soil. Space plants according to their mature spread (the plant can reach up to 35 inches tall and wide), and plant in fall or early spring to take advantage of natural rainfall patterns. This is a deer-resistant plant that needs very little supplemental water once established, making it ideal for xeriscape gardens.
After Planting
Water moderately during the first growing season to help the plant establish, then transition to very low water - essentially relying on rainfall in the Bay Area. This is an annual, so expect it to complete its life cycle and set seed rather than return year after year; let plants mature and drop their seeds if you want volunteers the following season. The #1 mistake is overwatering: treat this plant like the desert native it is, and err on the side of too dry rather than too wet.
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Endangered & Threatened Species Supported
Species of Special Concern in California
Wildlife Supported
Mammals
cache seeds for winter storage; important seed predator in desert scrub habitats
browse young growth during spring emergence
forage and cache seeds in late summer through fall
Birds
year-round resident in appropriate habitat; seeds important dietary component
primary seed forager in fall and winter months when seeds are available
migrant populations forage on seeds during fall passage through California
Reptiles
uses dense plant cover for thermoregulation and predator avoidance