Giant Buckwheat/St. Catherine’s Lace – Eriogonum giganteum vars. formosum & giganteum (er-ee-OG-uh-num jy-GAN-tee-um)

Family: Polygonaceae (Buckwheat Family)

Native to: San Clemente (var. formosum) and Catalina (var. giganteum) Islands; Dry slopes and ridges,

rocky cliffs in chaparral, coastal sage scrub.

Growth characteristics: perennial shrub mature height: 3-8 ft. mature width: 4-6+ ft. Large

rounded shrub with spreading branches and silvery-green foliage. Semi-deciduous. Attractive gray-green foliage.

Blooms/fruits: Blooms May-Aug. Tiny pink-cream flowers in dense flat heads held above the foliage.

Flowering heads look like baroque lace (hence the name ‘St. Catherine’s Lace’. Showy. Flowers turn to bronze-red as they age.

Uses in the garden: Tall informal hedge, on dry sunny slopes, erosion control, specimen plant. Dried

flowers can be used in arrangements. Nice against walls or in the back of beds. In large pots, it can be

pruned up to show its thick, rough trunk and branching structure. Showy and big, it requires adequate space to showcase its character.

Sensible substitute for: Non-native open-branched shrubs.

Attracts: Excellent nectar source of bees, butterflies and other insects. Larval food for Blue and

Hairstreak butterflies. Also good bird and small animal habitat: provides cover and seeds for food.

Requirements:

Element Requirement Sun Full to partial sun

Soil Best in rocky, well-drained soils; any local pH

Water Little to no summer water (will be somewhat drought deciduous)

Fertilizer None needed

Other

Management: Easy to grow. Cut back after blooming. Hybridizes with other native buckwheats, so don’t

plant near native buckwheat stands.

Propagation: from seed: yes, use fresh seed by cuttings: hard/semi-softwood in late summer/ fall

Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1-3, 5, 8, 9, 13, 14, 16, 19, 20, 24, 25, 28 11/29/10 © Project SOUND

Eriogonum giganteum St. Catherine’s Lace/Giant Buckwheat

Garden of Dreams – Cal State University Dominguez Hills, Carson CA

Garden of Dreams – Cal State University Dominguez Hills, Carson CA

Native Plant Garden - Madrona Marsh Nature Center, Torrance CA

Native Plant Garden - Madrona Marsh Nature Center, Torrance CA

Native Plant Garden - Madrona Marsh Nature Center, Torrance CA