Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Nude buckwheat (Eriogonum nudum) is a perennial shrub in the wild buckwheat family  that features a striking, upright form. It has a basal rosette of flat green leaves from which tall, bare stems rise, reaching up to six feet. At the top of these stems, rounded clusters of white, pale pink, or yellow flowers bloom, adding delicate color to the landscape.

This adaptable plant has one of the widest ecological distributions of all buckwheats. It thrives in environments ranging from wet coastal areas to the cold, dry elevations of the Sierra Nevada. While the species is generally common, certain varieties are rare.

Nude buckwheat is easy to grow and looks especially beautiful when planted in groups for a massed effect. The nectar-rich flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, while its seeds provide food for birds. Additionally, the plant serves as a host for caterpillars, supporting native ecosystems.

Plant type

Shrub

Size

6 - 12 in Tall
4 - 7 in Wide

Form

Mounding

Growth rate

Moderate

Dormancy

Summer Semi-deciduous

Calscape icon
Color

Yellow, Pink, White

Flowering season

Summer, Spring

Special uses

Deer resistant

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Very Low, Low

Summer irrigation

Max 1x / month once established

Ease of care

Moderate

Cold tolerance

Tolerates cold to -15 - -10° F

Soil drainage

Fast, Medium, Slow

Soil description

Adaptable.

Propagation

Harvest seeds from bracts in early fall. If directly seeding in the fall, no treatment is required, otherwise cold/moist stratification for 90 days will significantly improve germination. Carefully control weeds during the first year of establishment.

Site type

Exposed, sunny sites, including dry open places, rocky outcrops, along trails and roadsides.

Plant communities

Chaparral, Coastal Strand, Foothill Woodland, Joshua Tree Woodland, Pinyon-Juniper Woodland, Southern Oak Woodland, Valley Grassland, Yellow Pine Forest

California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), Black Sage (Salvia mellifera), Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), Eastern Mojave Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum var foliolosum), White Sage (Salvia apiana), Interior California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum var polifolium); Chaparral Yucca (Hesperoyucca whipplei)

Bats
Birds
Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

9 confirmed and 39 likely

Confirmed Likely

Mormon Metalmark

Apodemia mormo

Bramble Hairstreak

Callophrys dumetorum

Square-spotted Blue

Euphilotes battoides

Dotted Blue

Euphilotes enoptes