Eriogonum parvifolium

Common Names

Coast Buckwheat, Seacliff Buckwheat, Sea Cliff Buckwheat, Cliff Buckwheat, Wild Buckwheat, Dune Buckwheat, Coastal Buckwheat, Dune Eriogonum

Summary

Coastal buckwheat is an evergreen California native shrub forming rounded mounds up to about 1 m tall and 2 m wide, with cauline leaves that are narrow, green above and densely white-tomentose beneath. Inflorescences are capitate to cymose; flowers are white to pinkish or greenish-yellow and about 2.5–3 mm long, blooming year-round in mild coastal climates. It inhabits sandy coastal dunes, bluffs, and coastal strand within Coastal Sage Scrub and similar communities from San Diego to Monterey counties.

It prefers full sun to partial shade and very low to low water once established, thriving in dry, well-drained soils and showing drought tolerance. It is suitable for slopes, rock gardens, containers, borders, raised planters, erosion-control plantings, and native landscape or habitat garden settings, while offering nectar for pollinators. It is a food plant for two federally endangered butterflies, Euphilotes battoides allyni and Euphilotes enoptes smithi, and can be propagated by seeds or cuttings.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

1-3 feet

Spread

2-3 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 8-10

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; tolerates partial sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained sandy soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained sandy soil

Soil pH

5-8

Bloom Color

White to pink; often white or pink with possible rose-tinged, cream, or greenish-yellow variants

Bloom Time

Spring through Fall

Foliage Color

Olive green to green

Fall Foliage Color

Purple to brownish hues

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Moderate

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds and Cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts butterflies.