Eriogonum latifolium (Seaside Buckwheat)

Gordon Leppig & Andrea J. Pickart, no rights reserved (CC0) · Wikimedia Commons

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Eriogonum latifolium

seaside buckwheat

Polygonaceae

Pacific coast (Oregon to California)

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 8–10

Overview

Eriogonum latifolium is a low, mounding perennial or subshrub in the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae), forming a basal rosette of foliage 6-16 inches (15-40 cm) tall and about as wide. The spoon-shaped leaves are 0.6-2 inches (1.5-5 cm) long, green and nearly hairless above, densely white-woolly beneath, with edges that often roll under. From summer into fall, leafless, branching stalks rise above the foliage and carry tight, rounded clusters of tiny flowers that open white to pale pink and age to rust-red. The flower balls draw many native bees, butterflies, and other insects, and the plant is a larval host for several coastal butterflies. It grows on coastal bluffs, dunes, and sandy headlands exposed to wind and salt spray. The dried flower clusters hold their form into winter. One limitation is its need for fast-draining soil and its dislike of summer water and humidity, which cause rot in heavier inland gardens.

Native Range

Eriogonum latifolium is native to the Pacific coast of North America, from Oregon south along the California coast. It grows on coastal bluffs, dunes, and sandy slopes within reach of ocean wind and fog.

Suggested Uses

Eriogonum latifolium is used in coastal, native, and pollinator gardens, on sandy banks, and in dune and bluff restoration. Its long bloom and host value suit butterfly and habitat plantings. The need for sharp drainage limits its use in heavy or irrigated inland beds.

How to Identify

A basal mound of spoon-shaped leaves 0.6-2 inches (1.5-5 cm) long is green above and white-woolly beneath, with rolled-under edges. Leafless, branching stalks 6-16 inches (15-40 cm) tall carry tight, rounded clusters of white to pink flowers that age rust-red. The flat-topped, branched flower stalks separate it from Eriogonum nudum, which has more open, fewer-branched clusters.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 1'4"

Width/Spread1' - 2'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~16 weeks

Summer Fall

Flowering occurs from summer into fall, generally June to October. The rounded flower clusters open white to pink and slowly deepen to rust-red as they age and dry. The dried heads persist on the stalks into winter.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white to pink, aging rust-red

Foliage Description

green above, white-woolly below

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand rocky loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

Reaches mature size in 2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Eriogonum latifolium grows in full sun on fast-draining sandy or rocky soil and tolerates wind, salt spray, and lean, poor ground. It needs little or no summer water once established and rots in moist, rich, or poorly drained soil. Cool coastal conditions suit it, while hot, humid inland sites are harder for it to tolerate. It needs no fertilizer and resents soil disturbance around the crown. Few pests trouble it. Spent flower stalks can be left for winter structure and seed.

Pruning

Spent flower stalks are cut back in late winter before new growth, or left standing for seed and structure. Tattered leaves are removed from the crown as needed. The plant resents hard cutting into old wood, so pruning stays light.