Slender Buckwheat
Eriogonum microthecum
- Native to:
- United States
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Polygonaceae
- Genus:
- Eriogonum
- Species:
- Eriogonum microthecum
- USDA Symbol:
- ERMI4
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Subshrub
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream, yellow, 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
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from woody base after fire; often increases in abundance following burns in sagebrush communities.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained sandy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives in arid, open areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Light may improve germination. Seeds can be erratic; fresh seed germinates best.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds were placed in clear plastic germination boxes on two layers of moistened blotter paper, and placed in a germination chamber with a 12 hr light/12 hr dark regime at 22§ C. The light regime was later altered to 15 hrs light/9 hrs dark and the tray was moved closer to the light source.
Establishment: Seeds began germinating within 2 days and continued to germinate over the next 2.5 months. The creamy white flowers bloom from June to September. Seed maturation is indeterminate over 2 to 3 months. Seeds are mature when the perianth is paper-dry and the hard, filled seeds dehisce readily. Seed is collected by clipping the inflorescences or hand stripping into containers. After collection, seed was dried and then placed in a standard freezer for 48 hours to remove insect pests prior to cleaning. Seed was stored in a brown glass jar at room temperature for 18 months prior to this study.
Source: npn.rngr.net