Eriogonum nudum
naked buckwheat
Attracts PollinatorsAttracts ButterfliesDeer ResistantDrought TolerantContainer Friendly
Native to North America
Overview
Eriogonum nudum is a perennial wildflower of western North America, forming a low basal rosette of leaves from which tall, nearly leafless flowering stems rise 1-3 ft (30-90 cm), occasionally taller. The name naked buckwheat refers to these bare, often branched stalks. The basal leaves are oval to lance-shaped, 1-3 in (2.5-8 cm) long, green above and woolly-white beneath, with wavy margins. From late spring through summer the stems carry tight, rounded clusters of small white to pale-pink flowers at the branch tips, sometimes tinged rose with age. The flowers dry and persist on the stem into fall, turning rust-brown. It grows on dry, open slopes, rocky outcrops, and sandy flats in full sun. It needs sharp drainage and declines in rich, wet, or shaded sites. Many subspecies vary in height and leaf form across its range. It supports native bees and butterflies, and the seeds feed birds.
Native Range
Native to western North America, from British Columbia and Washington south through California to Baja California and east into the Great Basin. It grows on dry slopes, rocky ridges, chaparral openings, sandy flats, and roadsides from the coast to mid-mountain elevations.Suggested Uses
Grown in waterwise, rock, and native plant gardens of the western states, and used on dry banks and in meadow plantings. It is spaced 12-18 in (30-45 cm) apart on open, sunny ground. The long bloom and dried heads support pollinators and seed-eating birds.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 3'
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Eriogonum nudum grows in full sun on lean, rocky, or sandy soils with sharp drainage at a pH of 6.0-7.5, and tolerates drought once established. It needs little or no summer water and no fertilizer; rich soil and irrigation shorten its life. It withstands heat, wind, and poor ground. Cutting back the spent stalks in fall or winter tidies the rosette. It is short-lived but self-sows on open ground. Root rot is the main risk on heavy or wet soils.Pruning
Cut the dried flowering stalks to the base of the rosette in late fall or winter once seed has dropped. No other pruning is needed. Removing some spent stems before seed set limits self-sowing where that is not wanted.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
fallwinter
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons