James' Buckwheat

Eriogonum jamesii

Native to:
Mexico, United States

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Polygonaceae
Genus:
Eriogonum
Species:
Eriogonum jamesii
USDA Symbol:
ERJA

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb , Subshrub
Height:
30 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
jun,jul,aug,sep
Bloom Colors:
white, cream, yellow
Ground Cover:
Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Butterflies & Moths:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Keystone Species Ranking

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

Reported Fauna Sightings

Butterflies:Euphilotes centralis

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, butterflies, small mammals
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts from woody caudex following fire. Common in fire-maintained grasslands and shrublands of the southern Rocky Mountains.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
native to arid and semi-arid regions

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 30–90 days
Germination Time:
14–60 days
Notes:
Seeds require light for germination. Cold stratification improves germination rates significantly.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI

Pre-treatment: 6 prechilling treatments were used: 0,2,4,8,12,16 and 24 weeks of moist chilling at 2C in the dark.

Establishment: E. jamesii flowers in late spring to early summer and seeds ripen in late July to early August, depending on elevation. The general distribution is in the Southern Rocky Mountain states.

Source: npn.rngr.net

ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20°C. Seed germinates within 3 months * protect first winter

Source: Ontario Rock Garden & Hardy Plant Society