Plant Profile: California Buckwheat

I love our California Buckwheat plant! It is one of the rare plants that looks attractive during each season. It is an evergreen with beautiful, dark green, short, needle-like leaves. The leaves are attractive on their own but in the spring the buckwheat will begin to bloom. In no time the entire bush will be covered with creamy-pink flower clusters that flow with the wind and we do get a lot of wind! The flower clusters continue through summer and the bees absolutely love them. In the fall the flowers will die and turn into a stunning copper color. Unless trimmed, the copper spent flowers will remain an attractive piece in the garden throughout the winter. I like to leave the coppery stems every other winter. Our plant is in a location that I like to keep it trimmed to control its size but because I like the contrast between the copper stems and dark green leaves, I alternate the winters we trim it.

California Buckwheat Description

Now that I have described what the buckwheat plants look like through the seasons, what exactly is a California Buckwheat? It is a native plant to California but also spans into Arizona, Utah and Mexico. You will see the majority of the plants in central and southern California. If you are familiar with the Cajon Pass, that area is full with California Buckwheat and they grow profusely along the coast. They are very tough, easy to grow perennials. They are extremely drought tolerant and can survive with being watered once a month. If the dry period extends into many months, they will go dormant called drought deciduous and will come back once they are watered or it rains. Not only does the California Buckwheat handle the intense summer heat, it handles full sun and withstands cold temperatures down to 15 degrees fahrenheit. 

California Buckwheat is an important plant for California’s ecosystems and supports many varieties of wildlife. Bees, birds, butterflies and moths are all attracted to buckwheat for food and shelter. Buckwheat has high quality pollen and nectar so it attracts both the nectar seeking wildlife and pollen seeking wildlife. Scientists have confirmed that 15 species of butterflies and moths that rely on California Buckwheat and 36 additional species are still being studied as it is believed that they also depend heavily on this valuable plant. Many birds are attracted to buckwheat plants for shelter and the seeds during the fall and winter months.

California Buckwheat Facts

• Not only is California Buckwheat important for many animals but people have been using it for many years. Native American tribe Kumeyaay, from the southwestern corner of California, boiled the flowers and leaves to make a tea that was used as an eyewash, mouthwash, a remedy for headaches, stomach aches and bladder infections.
• The Cahuilla Native American tribe, from the regions of the San Bernardino deserts and San Jacinto mountains, used all parts of the plant. They used the leaves to make tea to treat headaches and stomach pains. The roots were steeped to make a tea to help treat colds and sore throats. Poultices made from the roots were used to treat wounds. Teas made from the flowers were used to treat heart problems.
• The Tongva Native American tribe, from the Los Angeles and Channel Islands region, used the leaves to make tea and ground the roots to help with stomach issues and headaches.
• Tiny seeds from the flowers can be collected and ground into flour. Don’t confuse this for the buckwheat flour used to make pancakes. Pancake buckwheat flour is made from the plant fagopyrum esculentum. This plant is an annual that is native to Asia and grown for food. California Buckwheat’s latin name is eriogonum fasciculatum.
• The latin word fasciculatum means “bundles.” This refers to the growth habit of the leaves.
• California Buckwheat is an important plant for bees and a valued plant for beekeepers. It is also noted to be the most important native source of nectar and pollen for honey bees in the state, making the best tasting honey.
• California Buckwheat is often used for erosion control.
• The Natural Resources Conservation Service is a division of the US Department of Agriculture that identifies and experiments with native plants for their conservation value. California Buckwheat was tested in their ability to protect soil from erosion control, revegetate burn areas and provide habitats and food sources for native wildlife. California Buckwheat showed superior value in all three categories.
• The hairs on the California Buckwheat’s leaves are an important part of what makes them so drought tolerant. The hairs on the leaves act as insulation from the heat and protection from the sun creating an air boundary layer of protection that reduces water loss. 

California Buckwheat Care

California Buckwheat is very easy to care for. It can handle full sun and partial shade. I do have one that gets shade most of the day and it is doing okay but I think they grow faster with more sunlight. 

These plants prefer well draining soil and like drying out between watering but can handle clay soil. If you have clay soil, just make sure not to over water. I currently have our plants on drip irrigation for a couple of reasons. The first is because we really don’t get a lot of rain and our plants are in our backyard and I would like them to thrive. The second reason I have them on drip irrigation is because they are planted under pine trees. The pine trees in our yard make it their duty to try and rob every plant of their water source so I tend to water more in these areas to help my plants compete with the pine trees.

California Buckwheat plants handle being trimmed very well. Like I mentioned before one of our plants is in a location that I like to keep it trimmed for size and I do so every other year. I like to see the coppery flower stems during the winter but that is my preference. If you do not care for that look of the coppery stems, just trim your plant to your liking.

Quick Facts: California Buckwheat

I hope you have enjoyed learning more about the California Buckwheat. I did read that buckwheat is one of the most important native pollen and nectar sources for honey bees and gardeners are encouraged to have at least one plant in their yard. So, please consider adding one to your garden. They are very easy to care for and add interest throughout the year.

Happy desert gardening!

Joy Simper has a full time job as a home schooling stay at home mom. She is the one that holds the house and yard together and keeps the kids in line. She enjoys gardening, including seed starting and propagating plants.