Also known as eastern mojave buckwheat, this rounded evergreen shrub or subshrub is a member of the knotweed family, Polygonaceae, that also includes rhubarb, dock and sea grape. It is native to western US from Utah to California, south to Arizona and Mexico where it grows on dry slopes and washes, and in canyons of deserts areas and coastal foothills. Plants grow 2-3′ tall and have gray hairy leaves up to .25″ long that may drop in the summer. From spring to summer dense flowerheads of creamy white flowers appear on long stems and turn deep brown in the fall. Each 6 petaled flower has protruding rose tipped stamens that give the appearance of whiskers. Flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies. Plants are very drought tolerant and a good choice for a xeriscape where they can be used for bank stabilization and groundcovers. The genus name, Eriogonum, comes from the Greek words, erion meaning wool, and gony meaning knee and refers to the downy hairs on the nodes of the stems. The specific epithet, fasciculatum, comes from the Latin word fasculus meaning a little bundle. The varietal name, polifolium, may come from the Latin words polio meaning to whiten and folium, meaning leaf, and refers to the color of the leaves.
Type: Evergreen shrub or subshrub
Outstanding Feature: Flowerheads
Form: Rounded
Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
Bloom: Flowerheads of 6 petaled creamy white flowers with long rose tipped stamens from spring to summer
Size: 2-3′ H x 3-4′ W
Light: Full sun
Soil: Average, dry, well-drained
Hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10
Care: Low maintenance
Pests and Diseases: Root root in overly moist soil
Propagation:Seed
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Karen Meyers