Carried by 9 nurseries
View Availability at NurseryData provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria
View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora
California Buckwheat has several recognized varieties that are found in different ecoregions. This variety (var. polifolium) is a smaller and grayer buckwheat, commonly found in the Sonora and Mojave deserts, although its ranges covers the southern California foothills as well. It grows in southern and central California, as well as outside of the state, on dry slopes and washes and canyons, at elevations from 200-7500 feet. It is both more heat tolerant and more cold tolerant.
This is a great plant for natural landscapes especially in the foothills and deserts in its wide natural range. The gray foliage of Interior Buckwheat is striking mixed in with green of Coastal California Buckwheat,and is great plant for attracting birds, pollinators and other wildlife. Plant in full sun in a well draining site, and avoid direct summer water once established. Very tough and easy to grow, but tends to grow more slowly than the coastal variety.
Shrub
2 - 3 ft Tall
3 - 4 ft Wide
Rounded
Moderate, Slow
Evergreen, Summer Semi-deciduous
None
Cream, Pink, White
Summer
Groundcover, Bank stabilization
Full Sun
Low, Very Low
Max 1x / month once established
Easy
Tolerates cold to -20° F
Fast
Prefers coarse, well-drained soil such as decomposed granite.
Soil PH: 7.0 - 8.0
7*, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14*, 15*, 16*, 17, 18*, 19*, 20*, 21*, 22*, 23*, 24*
Dry slopes, washes and canyons in desert transition, high desert and sheltered locations in low desert
Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub, Joshua Tree Woodland, Pinyon-Juniper Woodland, Sagebrush Scrub
Coastal California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum var fasciculatum) Chamise (Adenostema fasciculatum), California Copperleaf (Aclypha californica), Chaparral Mallow (Malacothamnus fasciculatus), Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa), Sugarbush (Rhus ovata), Desert Agave (Agave deserti), Mojave Yucca (Yucca shidigera), Creosote (Larrea tridentata), Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), and cactus species
Butterflies and moths supported
0 confirmed and 48 likely
Sonoran Metalmark
Apodemia mejicanus
Mormon Metalmark
Apodemia mormo
Behr's Metalmark
Apodemia virgulti
Orange Tortrix Moth
Argyrotaenia franciscana