Though its native region is quite small on California's Channel Islands, Red-Flowered Buckwheat (Eriogonum grande var. rubescens) is a popular landscape plant throughout the state.
Red-Flowered Buckwheat gets its common name from its rosy-colored clustering flowers, which bloom from spring to fall. The plant attracts many pollinators, especially butterflies. After blooming, its seeds provide food for birds.
Red-Flowered Buckwheat spreads moderately but stays compact, making it a great option for adding color to small spaces. It thrives in full sun with only a small amount of supplemental summer water.
Pair Red-Flowered Buckwheat with other drought-adapted plants, including other Channel Islands species for a coastal garden vibe. We love to use it for rock and pollinator gardens, along borders, and on slopes.
Eriogonum grande var. rubescens - Red-Flowered Buckwheat
Optimal Growth Conditions
- Mature Height: 8 inches to 1.5 feet tall
- Mature Width: 2 - 3 feet
- Sun: Full Sun
- Water: Very Low, Low
- Soil Drainage: Slow
Geographic Appropriateness
- USDA Zone: Zones 8 - 11
- Sunset Zone: Zones 5, 14 - 24
- Native Sites: Dry, rocky cliffs and protected pockets on the northern Channel Islands with strong marine influence
Additional Landscaping Information
- Characteristics: California Native, Evergreen, Flowering, Spreading
- Special Uses: Containers, Deer resistant, Groundcover, Pollinator Gardens