Coastal Buckwheat

Eriogonum cinereum

Native to:
United States

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Polygonaceae
Genus:
Eriogonum
Species:
Eriogonum cinereum
USDA Symbol:
ERCI5

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub , Subshrub
Height:
150 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
aug,sep,oct,nov,dec
Bloom Colors:
white, pink
Landscaping Shrub:
Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Butterflies & Moths:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Caterpillars:
★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Keystone Species Ranking

Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
★★★★☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Square-spotted blue (Euphilotes battoides)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Black-tailed bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus) Butterflies:Euphilotes bernardino, Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Icaricia acmon, Marine Blue (Leptotes marina)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, butterflies, birds
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Salt Tolerant:
Yes
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts from woody base after fire; common in coastal sage scrub fire regime.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
native to coastal scrub and chaparral areas

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
None required
Germination Time:
14–60 days
Notes:
Surface sow; seeds require light for germination. Fresh seed germinates best.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI

Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Scarify, then cold-moist stratify for 60 days.

Source: Claude AI