California buckwheat

Waves of rust colored flowers in the landscape say Los Angeles summer and fall to me. These flowers are California buckwheat flowers (Eriogonum fasciculatum), and they are one of the big factors that give the Los Angeles landscape its sense of place.

California buckwheat flowers start out pink and white in late winter and early spring. But, as temperatures rise and the seasons change, the flowers dry and darken to their iconic, deep rust color. The leaves are dark green, small, and needle-like. As a semi-evergreen plant, California buckwheat stays green year round, but it drops many leaves when the weather turns dry.

I love the way the rust and dark green of California buckwheat pops against the silver of white sage or chaparral yucca. Really, though, I love California buckwheat anywhere.

Buckwheat is one of those plants that grows so frequently in the Southern California landscape and that supports so much life that you can’t go wrong planting a lot of it in your garden. Check out Calscape to see all butterflies and moths that California buckwheat supports.