This final discussion of Eriogonum, or wild buckwheat, examines three beauties that are grown at the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden at Patrick Ranch: E. nudum; E. umbellatum; and E. grande var. rubescens (previous articles in this series have looked at E. giganteum and E. fasciculatum). A quick reminder about characteristics that wild buckwheats have in common: they are tolerant of harsh conditions such as drought, rocky soil, and blasting summer heat, and are able to persist in hot desert and chaparral as well as montane environments. Most hate having wet feet, so will not grow in marshy or riparian ecosystems or heavy clay soils. All provide excellent sustenance to pollinators. Pertinent to two of the species discussed below is the wild buckwheat's penchant for hybridization, which has not only resulted in over 250 Eriogonum species, but also a large number of varieties within species.
Species Focus – Eriogonum nudum
Being deciduous also makes it different from most wild buckwheats. Its life cycle starts in the spring, when it puts out ground-hugging green leaves in a rosette pattern. From there, it sends up slender, hairless or bare (nudum) stems, often dividing into two or more stems towards the top half, which begin to bloom in May and last through at least August. The flowers are frilly balls of white, pale pink, or yellow. The bare stems of E. nudum, topped with rounded flower clusters above which float delicate anthers, are a dramatic scene in the late summer landscape.
The many common names of this plant include naked, nude, or barestem buckwheat, and naked-stemmed Eriogonum. Native American peoples found several uses for its hairless stems: the Karuk tribe of Siskiyou County and the Miwok tribe of California's Central Coast ate young, tender stems raw; while older stems were upended with the leaves still attached for use as brooms. The Kawaiisu peoples of southeastern California used the hollow stems as smoking pipes and drinking straws.
Species Focus – Eriogonum umbellatum
Generally speaking, though, sulphurflowered buckwheat forms a low, broad mat from four inches to two feet tall and wide. The clusters of tiny flowers are borne on stems ranging from three to sixteen inches tall. According to the US Department of Agriculture's Plant Profile, “floral displays can color entire slopes starting in June at lower elevations and continue into September or October at higher elevations.”
Sulphur buckwheats are native to the western mountains of North America, and are found in roughly the western third of Canada and the U.S., as far east as Colorado and New Mexico. They can live at elevations of up to 12,000 feet. As with other buckwheats, they are not only an important food source for bees and butterflies, but animals as large as deer and mountain sheep will browse their leaves.
Throughout the American and Canadian west, Native peoples found a number of medicinal uses for various parts of the sulphur buckwheat. Paiute and Shoshone tribes mashed leaves and roots into a poultice for both lameness and rheumatism, and drank a hot tea of simmered roots for colds or stomachaches. Closer to home, the Klamath Indians soothed burns with a poultice made of its leaves.
Species Focus – Eriogonum grande (var. rubescens)
A mere three subspecies belong to E. grande (Island or Redflower buckwheat), and all are native to California's Channel Islands. E. grande var. grande is found on several of the Channel Islands, and the very rare E. grande var. timorum is native to the southern Channel Island of St. Nicolas. The only one that is available horticulturally (according to Calscape) is the variety planted at the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden: E. grande var. rubescens. This buckwheat is commonly called red-flowered buckwheat or simply red buckwheat and is extensively planted in native gardens state-wide due to its beauty, compact form, and blooms that last up to seven months.
Which brings us to the fact that grande is an odd name for a species known for its neat and petite growth habit, and which spreads neither quickly nor very far. (Maybe this is why a certain coffee chain got the idea to name its smallest coffee size “grande?”)
The best thing about planting long-flowering natives in your yard is the sheer volume of bees and butterflies that will visit to feed. That, their low water needs, and signature frilly blooms make wild buckwheats a choice addition to your native, drought-resistant garden.
I hope this peek into a few of the many wild buckwheat species will entice you to plant some in your garden. Please be sure to check the Calflora website for photos of each of the 256 wild buckwheat species.
UC Master Gardeners of Butte County are part of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) system. To learn more about us and our upcoming events, and for help with gardening in our area, visit our website. If you have a gardening question or problem, email the Hotline at mgbutte@ucanr.edu or leave a phone message on our Hotline at (530) 538-7201. To speak to a Master Gardener about a gardening issue, or to drop by the MG office during Hotline hours, see the most current information on our Ask Us Hotline webpage.
Continuing our focus on select species of Eriogonum (wild buckwheat), this week's discussion features California buckwheat (E. fasciculatum).
Species Focus - California Buckwheat
Eriogonum fasciculatum, best known as California buckwheat and sometimes called eastern Mojave buckwheat or flat-topped buckwheat, is found primarily on dry slopes and canyon washes in the American West, including Nevada, Utah, and Arizona, in addition to California and reaching as far as Mexico's northwest. In California it is the most widespread of the shrubby buckwheat species, found in abundance in the southern half of our state. It is less common in the Central Valley and northern reaches, although it has proven to be a successful a landscape plant in Butte County. Its adaptation to our Mediterranean climate allows it to survive on as little as seven inches of rain annually.
According to California Native Plants for the Garden (an excellent resource for gardeners looking to shift from traditional thirsty landscaping to a yard that conserves water and sustains pollinators), the hairs on E. fasciculatum's leaves contribute to its ability to withstand the dry and harsh conditions of the ecosystems it inhabits. Hairy leaves provide insulation from heat and protection from direct sunlight as well as a boundary air layer that reduces water loss.
Its genus name, fasciculatum, comes from the Latin word meaning “bundles,” used in botany to refer to the growth habit of plant leaves. It shares this genus name with many other plant species.
Native American peoples in the west and southwest used different parts of the California buckwheat for nutrition and medicine. The Cahuilla tribe of what is now the greater Palm Springs area used this plant in many ways: they treat headaches and stomach pains with tea made from its leaves; treated colds and sore throats with tea made by steeping its roots; and applied poultices made from pounded roots to wounds. Cahuilla peoples also treated heart problems with tea from the dried flowers and dried roots of E. fasciculatum. Modern science has verified that a chemical compound common to several plant species including Eriogonum can be beneficial to hearts (USDA Plant Profile).
The Natural Resources Conservation Service, a division of the US Department of Agriculture, identifies and experiments with natives and other plants for their conservation value - primarily their ability to protect soils from erosion, revegetate burn scars, and provide habitat and sustenance to wildlife as an aid in controlling agricultural pests. Their experiments with California buckwheat show that it has superior value in all three of these categories. The USDA Plant Profile for E. fasciculatum classifies its performance as a conservation plant on critical areas and problem soils as “excellent.” It receives another “excellent” mark for providing “nectar sources for beneficial insects when planted next to crops as part of an (IPM) Integrated Pest Management program.” They recommend the use of its seeds in seed mixes introduced to burn scars for revegetation. Finally, California buckwheat gets USDA bonus points because it is “ideal for environmental enhancement uses” (government-speak for “beautiful in the landscape”).
A number of buckwheat species, including a large lovely California buckwheat, are thriving in the Butte County Master Gardener Demonstration Garden at Patrick Ranch (located just south of Chico on the Midway). At this time of year, they are abuzz with bees, and visited often by butterflies. Due to our current safety measures, no human visitors are allowed, but we look forward to seeing you there in the future, so you can appreciate the fascinating buckwheat family and our gardens in general.
For more information on E. fasciculatum, see the following sources:
United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Plants Database
Carol Bornstein, David Fross, and Bart O'Brien, California Native Plants for the Garden (Cachuma Press, 2005).
UC Master Gardeners of Butte County are part of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) system. To learn more about us and our upcoming events, and for help with gardening in our area, visit our website. If you have a gardening question or problem, email the Hotline at mgbutte@ucanr.edu or leave a phone message on our Hotline at (530) 538-7201. To speak to a Master Gardener about a gardening issue, or to drop by the MG office during Hotline hours, see the most current information on our Ask Us Hotline webpage.
An astounding number of species populate the wild buckwheat genus Eriogonum - over 250, according to the CALFLORA website. And, due to their propensity to hybridize, active speciation continues as we speak. There are species for almost every letter of the alphabet, from A (E. abertianum) to Z (E. zionis). This article will discuss characteristics common to all of the wild buckwheats, and then focus on a landscape beauty, E. giganteum, known familiarly as St. Catherine's Lace or giant buckwheat.
And the last bit of fun with words involves etymology. The Latin genus name Eriogonum was bestowed by French botanist and explorer André Michaux, who traveled to the United States in 1785 to find plants that could be taken back to France for use in carpentry, medicine, and agriculture. During his botanical explorations in the Southeastern US, he came upon a wooly plant with sharply bent stems and christened it Eriogonum tomentosum (common name dogtongue wild buckwheat). Eriogonum translates from the Greek as “wooly knees” (erion = wool and gona = knee or joint).; tomentosum translates from the Latin as densely matted or hairy, a descriptor originally used for plants that were used to stuff mattresses or pillows.
Wild buckwheats have mastered the art of thriving in the multiple challenging environments found in California. In a 2013 article for Pacific Horticulture, local garden guru Jennifer Jewell notes that these hardy dryland natives “thrive in exposed locations on slim soils” and “are at their best in lean, well-draining soil and full sun.” She quotes international buckwheat expert Dr. James Reveal, who marvels at this plant's ability to inhabit any ecological habitat, from “the seashore to the highest mountains in the United States.” He adds that, “They are among the last plants seen atop the Sierra Nevada and on the ‘outskirts' of Badwater in Death Valley.”
Species Focus - Eriogonum giganteum
St. Catherine's Lace is one of the many buckwheat species that provide food to a wide variety of pollinators; it is also a beautiful landscape plant, especially for larger spaces. Its species name, giganteum, reveals its claim to fame; this is the largest of all the wild buckwheats, with the ability to grow up to ten feet high and wide. It prefers fast-draining rocky soil but will tolerate heavier clay soils if seldom watered and can also handle alkaline conditions. Although this species is native to California's Channel Islands, it easily adapts to summer temperatures in the Valley, and will withstand winter lows of 15 to 25 degrees F.
The leathery, woolly, oval-shaped leaves are large relative to other wild buckwheat species and range from a grayish green to silver. Occasional summer water will keep this buckwheat evergreen, but in the wild, plants will drop a portion of their leaves as a drought survival strategy.
Endemic to the Channel Islands of Southern California, St. Catherine's Lace naturally populates Coastal sage and chaparral ecoregions. Three distinct species have developed on three of the eight Channel Islands: Santa Barbara Island buckwheat (var. compactum); San Clemente Island buckwheat (var. formosum); and Santa Catalina Island buckwheat (var. giganteum).
As an ornamental landscape plant, it is at its best in native plant, drought tolerant, and wildlife gardens, and when a natural garden design is desired. Its size, form, and texture make it a good choice for background planting, or to fill and soften a bare corner in the yard. The UC Davis Arboretum classifies E. giganteum as one of its "All-Stars," a testament to this plant's aesthetic value and endurance in our hot, dry landscape, and its service to native pollinators and other wildlife.
Each of the 256species in the genus Eriogonum offers its own version of habitat value and native beauty. Visit the CALFLORA website to view detailed photos of each of the wild buckwheats and decide which is your favorite.
For more information:
Jennifer Jewell, “Beneficial Buckwheats,” Pacific Horticulture Newsletter, April 2013
UC Master Gardeners of Butte County are part of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) system. To learn more about us and our upcoming events, and for help with gardening in our area, visit our website. If you have a gardening question or problem, email the Hotline at mgbutte@ucanr.edu or leave a phone message on our Hotline at (530) 538-7201. To speak to a Master Gardener about a gardening issue, or to drop by the MG office during Hotline hours, see the most current information on our Ask Us Hotline webpage.
California is host to almost 7000 species of native plants, more than any other state. About 40% of those species are found only in California. In fact, California is more species-rich than most other places on Earth. Native plants are those that grow in the wild, have evolved in what is now California and were present here prior to contact by Europeans. As you drive down the highway, however, most of the roadside plants you see are non-native -- they were brought here either accidentally or on purpose from elsewhere. There are more than 1000 species of non-native plants present in California. Many of these are invasive and can out-compete natives where the natural habitat has been disturbed, as is the case along roadsides. The California Academy of Sciences estimates that 75% of the original habitat for native plants has been lost to non-native plants due to human activity. Imagine Table Mountain without its spring show of wildflowers, or valley grasslands devoid of California poppies!
CNPS produces many statewide publications, including Artemisia, a quarterly journal with a scientific perspective on native plant topics. The CNPS Fire Recovery Guide, published in 2019, has been widely distributed to victims of the Camp Fire and other recent fires in Butte County and is also available to download for free at the CNPS website.
CNPS has also created an online database containing horticultural information about specific native plants. Called Calscape, the database can be used to find suitable native plants for your garden based on location and desired plant characteristics. Another useful Calscape feature is a garden planner which generates a suggested plant list and sample garden designs based on answers to four simple questions. This feature is quite useful for people interested in gardening with native plants.
CNPS members affiliate with one of 35 local chapters. The Mount Lassen Chapter covers Butte, Glenn, Tehama, and Plumas Counties. Rob Schlising, retired CSU Chico biology professor, described the formation of the chapter: “Over 75 people assembled at a meeting in Chico on the rainy evening of 4 November 1977 to initiate a new chapter of the California Native Plant Society. The group chose the name “Mount Lassen Chapter,” and I was elected the first chapter president. I provided an illustrated talk called ‘What is so special about our native plants?'”
The chapter continues to have an active program which includes online presentations, field trips throughout the year, maintenance of the Alice Hecker Native Plant Garden at Chico Creek Nature Center, co-sponsorship with Altacal Audubon of the Water-Wise and Habitat-Friendly Garden Tour, and educational outreach at public events. The chapter also provides grant money for students to attend the statewide conference. Information about upcoming events is available on the chapter website. The next online presentation will be a talk about Calscape by Jessica Woodard, Calscape Product Manager, on Wednesday, September 7, 2022 at 7pm.
Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) is a common sight throughout our hot dry Butte County summers. It is also considered to be one of the world's most noxious perennial weeds. Johnsongrass forms dense showy bunches of vegetation three to six feet tall along pathways, in and around orchards and gardens, in open fields, and near waterways. In California, Johnsongrass is found in the Central Valley, Cascade Range foothills, Western California, and the Sierra Nevada foothills to about 2600 feet. Under certain conditions, its leaves produce a toxic acid which is poisonous to livestock.
Johnsongrass was even pointed to as a factor in the downfall of the world's largest vineyard at the time, Leland Stanford's 3,575 acres of grapes at Vina in Tehama County. When the vineyard closed in 1916, Prohibitionists argued that its demise was evidence that wine and brandy production could not be profitable in California, and therefore Prohibition would not adversely affect the state economy. But the business manager of the Stanford University Board of Trustees insisted that the vineyard had been profitable until Johnsongrass took over: “it was all through the vineyard. It became apparent that it could not be eliminated as long as the vines were left in place, and that, in order to get rid of the Johnson grass, it would be necessary to take the vines up and make a fight against it" (The Wine and Spirit Bulletin, v.30, 1916, p. 36). While the Stanford vineyard operation suffered other setbacks at the same time, Johnsongrass clearly served as a worthy scapegoat that farmers and gardeners could relate to.
(Stanford's ranch has currently been revitalized by the Cistercian Abbey of Our Lady of New Clairvaux in Vina.)
UC Master Gardeners of Butte County are part of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) system. To learn more about us and our upcoming events, and for help with gardening in our area, visit our website. If you have a gardening question or problem, email the Hotline at mgbutte@ucanr.edu (preferred) or call (530) 538-7201.