#eriogonum

[ruthbancroftgarden]

Eriogonum latifolium

Plants in the genus Eriogonum are known as wild buckwheats, and they are found in many varied habitats in western North America. This one is Eriogonum latifolium, the seaside buckwheat. As its common name suggests, its distribution hugs the coast, extending from the Big Sur area of California northward to coastal Oregon and Washington. Like other wild buckwheats, it has tiny flowers packed together in clusters, and the flower color ranges from white to pink. The genus belongs to the family Polygonaceae.

-Brian

[crudlynaturephotos]

[crudlynaturephotos]

[crudlynaturephotos]

[ruthbancroftgarden]

Eriogonum grande var. rubescens

California has a large number of wild buckwheat species, belonging to the genus Eriogonum and placed in the family Polygonaceae. Most of these have white, pink or yellow flowers, but Eriogonum grande rubescens is redder than the others, making a wonderful show of many rounded heads of tiny flowers that contrast beautifully with the silvery or green color of the leaves. Eriogonum grande is closely related to E. latifolium, and considerd by some authors to be a form of that species. Native to southern California's Channel Islands.

-Brian

[ribesaureum]

Had an absolutely lovely weekend looking at plants in the outside. First of many posts incoming

THE BUCKWHEATS

In the arid mountain west, this is one of the most numerous of the flowering plants.

Featuring oolite soils, ash tuft soils, the rare annual (most are perennials) and amidst the rocks

[ruthbancroftgarden]

Eriogonum arborescens

Eriogonums belong to the family Polygonaceae, and they are commonly known as "wild buckwheat". California has many species, including Eriogonum arborescens, from the Channel Islands off the coast of Southern California. Many species in the genus are more herbaceous than woody, but this one is a bush up to 5 feet tall (1.5 m). It looks like a miniature tree, as is implied by its name "arborescens". It produces many clusters of tiny flowers over a long period in the summer and fall, and these are initially pale pink. Later in the season, the brown-tinged old flowers combine with the pink new ones to give a salmon-tinged effect, as seen in the photo. A great species for a dry-summer landscape!

-Brian

[wiley-treehouse-gardens]

Eriogonum, a variety that's yellow with orange centers