St. Catherine's Lace
Eriogonum giganteum
Climate Match for your location
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A California native shrub with silvery-gray foliage and delicate white to pink flower clusters that resemble lace. Highly drought-tolerant once established and attracts pollinators.
Why grow it
St. Catherine's Lace outperforms many Mediterranean shrubs in low-water landscapes once established, requiring minimal supplemental irrigation in most California climates. Its fine-textured foliage and airy flower clusters offer visual contrast to broader-leaved drought-tolerant plants, while the extended blooming period (typically summer through fall) provides sustained pollinator resources when many other natives are dormant.
Watch out for
Young plants benefit from consistent moisture during their first growing season to develop deep roots, which can delay establishment compared to other xeric shrubs. In heavy clay soils or areas with poor drainage, root rot becomes a concern even though mature plants are drought-adapted, so amend soil with sand or gravel if needed. Older plants may become leggy over time and respond well to light pruning after flowering, though severe cutting back typically produces sparse regrowth.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Polygonaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
California (Santa Catalina Island, Baja California)
Native to: California
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A California native shrub with silvery-gray foliage and delicate white to pink flower clusters that resemble lace. Highly drought-tolerant once established and attracts pollinators.
Climate Match for your location
See how well St. Catherine's Lace grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
St. Catherine's Lace outperforms many Mediterranean shrubs in low-water landscapes once established, requiring minimal supplemental irrigation in most California climates. Its fine-textured foliage and airy flower clusters offer visual contrast to broader-leaved drought-tolerant plants, while the extended blooming period (typically summer through fall) provides sustained pollinator resources when many other natives are dormant.
Watch out for
Young plants benefit from consistent moisture during their first growing season to develop deep roots, which can delay establishment compared to other xeric shrubs. In heavy clay soils or areas with poor drainage, root rot becomes a concern even though mature plants are drought-adapted, so amend soil with sand or gravel if needed. Older plants may become leggy over time and respond well to light pruning after flowering, though severe cutting back typically produces sparse regrowth.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Polygonaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
California (Santa Catalina Island, Baja California)
Native to: California
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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