california native flora

Eriogonum Grande var. Rubescens – San Miguel Island Buckwheat

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Red Buckwheat or San Miguel Island Buckwheat is a fast growing perennial native to the California channel islands. As the name suggests this plant has pretty little red flower clusters though more commonly pink. The blooms are fairly long lasting through summer and as seeds develop into fall they’ll provide food for many different garden critters.

This is one of the smaller Buckwheats in our patio garden. It grows to about 1′ tall although the flower stems are often another foot higher. The compact form makes it a good border plant, spreading not much more than 2′ or 3′ wide. In the ground it won’t need much water at all once established. It is just as happy growing in a pot but it will need water there.

Seeds are the most common method of propagation for this Buckwheat but if you are lucky enough to find a specimen with red flowers cuttings may be the best way to perpetuate that quality.

This plant is endemic to California and is listed as endangered.