Eriogonum caespitosum

RHS Plant Profile
matted buckwheat

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A mat-forming, perennial buckwheat, native to Western USA but also cultivated as a rock/alpine garden plant. Plants have a woody base, and small, spoon-shaped fuzzy grey-green leaves with rolled edges. Round clusters of greenish-yellow flowers, turning more red as they mature, are borne on upright stems in late spring and early summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Up to 10 cm

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
Up to 10 cm

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H6

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Polygonaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Matforming
Genus
A genus of evergreen flowering shrubs native to North America, with silvery grey-green foliage and clusters of cotton-ball like pink and white flowers. Grown as food for both humans, livestock and wildlife and used as medicine by some native American tribes
Name Status
Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Thrives in gritty, well-drained soil in full sun. Protect from excess winter wet. When grown under glass water from underneath only. Suitable for a rock garden, trough or alpine house

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by softwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Gravel garden
  • Rock garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids and glasshouse red spider mite when grown under glass

Diseases

Generally disease-free