Eriogonum grande var. rubescens (Red-flowered Buckwheat)
← Back to Plant DatabaseEriogonum grande var. rubescens
Red-flowered Buckwheat
Characteristics
Height: 1 ft
Width: 3 ft
Hardiness: Very Hardy
Natural Setting: Dry, rocky cliffs and protected pockets on the northern Channel Islands³
Plant Type: Perennial
Dormancy: Evergreen
Form: Spreading
Growth Rate: Fast-Moderate
Flower Season: Spring-Fall
Soil: Adaptable
Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade along the coast, partial shade inland
Water Requirements: Low once established
Cold Tolerance: Tolerates cold to 20° F
Overview
A unique buckwheat from the Channel Islands with bright red/pink flower clusters. Great for bringing vibrant summer color and attracting butterflies, it flourishes with vivid pink flowers from June to October. This evergreen shrub is notable for its compact form, growing into a dense mound approximately 1 foot tall and spreading up to 3 feet wide. Its small, spoon-shaped leaves are gray-green on top and woolly underneath.
Care & Maintenance
If planting inland, it should receive a little less sun than if it was being planted near the coast. Requires very little supplemental water once established. Often only lasts for about 3-5 years but will replace itself through reseeding in most gardens.
To provide an important food source for birds, let the flowers to go to seed. You can then remove the spent flowers once the birds have eaten their fill or the wind has dispersed the seed.
Prune back in the fall to keep it tidy but don’t cut into the wood.
Uses
Good for rock gardens, borders, containers, butterfly gardens, small spaces, and slopes.
Wildlife
Like all California buckwheats, this species is vital within its plant communities, serving as a key food source. Its extended blooming period provides pollinators with a steady food supply for several months, essential for their survival and reproduction. This buckwheat variety attracts butterflies, such as Gray Hairstreak and Acmon Blue.³ After the flowering season, it produces seeds that are an important food source for various birds.
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Lush spreading groundcover with violet blooms in summer to fall.