California Buckwheat
Eriogonum fasciculatum
Also known as Flattop Buckwheat, Flat-topped Buckwheat, California Wild Buckwheat
Climate Match for your location
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A drought-tolerant California native shrub with small white to pink flowers clustered in rounded heads that bloom over an extended season. Excellent for xeriscaping, wildflower gardens, and pollinator support with minimal water once established.
Why grow it
California buckwheat establishes more reliably than many native shrubs in poor, well-drained soils where Mediterranean and desert-adapted plantings struggle. It flowers over a longer season than related Eriogonum species, providing sustained nectar availability for native bees and butterflies. Where space and water budget are both constrained, it offers the resilience of a true xeric shrub without the slow growth that limits some alternatives.
Watch out for
Plants perform best with supplemental water during their first growing season; avoid heavy summer irrigation once established, as excess moisture can shorten their lifespan. Flowering is most abundant in full sun, and plants become sparse or leggy in partial shade. Some self-seeding can occur in favorable microclimates, though it is not aggressive.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Polygonaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
California native
Native to: Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A drought-tolerant California native shrub with small white to pink flowers clustered in rounded heads that bloom over an extended season. Excellent for xeriscaping, wildflower gardens, and pollinator support with minimal water once established.
Climate Match for your location
See how well California Buckwheat grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
California buckwheat establishes more reliably than many native shrubs in poor, well-drained soils where Mediterranean and desert-adapted plantings struggle. It flowers over a longer season than related Eriogonum species, providing sustained nectar availability for native bees and butterflies. Where space and water budget are both constrained, it offers the resilience of a true xeric shrub without the slow growth that limits some alternatives.
Watch out for
Plants perform best with supplemental water during their first growing season; avoid heavy summer irrigation once established, as excess moisture can shorten their lifespan. Flowering is most abundant in full sun, and plants become sparse or leggy in partial shade. Some self-seeding can occur in favorable microclimates, though it is not aggressive.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Polygonaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
California native
Native to: Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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