A densely branched shrub growing 2-4 ft. high and 3-6 ft. wide. Prickly foliage is comprised of small needle-like leaves. White to light pink flowers occur in late spring; seed heads mature to deep brown by late fall and persist into winter. California buckwheat is the most wide spread species of buckwheat in California. It grows in the coastal sage scrub plant communities in coastal and inland bluffs, plains and foothills. With in its range, it has proven to be adapt able to many types of soils, as well as heat, aridity and drought. It provides pollen for honey bees and produces an abundance of seeds for birds. This species is widely used for slope stabilization and restoration of natural areas, and is easily established by seed. A number of prostrate cultivars are grown as groundcovers in native plant gardens.
California buckwheat
Description
Foliage Character: Evergreen
Habit: Mounding, Dense
Growth Rate: Moderate
Foliage Color: Medium green
Flower Color: Pink, White
Flower Season: Spring
Soil Adaptations: Clay, Calcareous soil, Well-draining soil
Exposure Adaptations: Heat, Drought, Aridity, All day sun
Function: Attracts butterflies, Wildlife value, Slopes, Restoration, Banks, Background plant, Attracts bees
Height: 2 ft. – 4 ft.
Width: 3 ft. – 6 ft.
Common buckwheat grows well in Inland empire gardens in areas of full sun and with normal rainfall and low amounts of summer water. The chart shown below provides a recommended baseline guide to the monthly irrigation schedule and volume of supplemental water needed to maintain healthy growth throughout the average year. It should be noted there are several months indicated by an asterisk (*) when winter rains can provide sufficient moisture and irrigation is not needed. The high and low range of moisture indicates it can grow with varying amounts of water and you should make irrigation adjustments based of field observations of growth and character. Understory leaf litter should be allowed to dry out in between summer waterings to avoid excessive growth and disease problems.
Low Water Use Plants – Irrigation Schedule 1
Jan* | Feb* | Mar* | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov* | Dec* | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Runs per Month | 0x to 2x | 0x to 2x | 0x to 2x | 1x | 1x | 1x | 1x | 1x | 1x | 1x | 0x to 2x | 0x to 2x |
Inches per Run | 1″ | 1″ | 1″ | 1″ | 1″ | 1″ | 1″ | 1″ | 1″ | 1″ | 1″ | 1″ |
Inches per Month | 0″ to 2″ | 0″ to 2″ | 0″ to 2″ | 1″ | 1″ | 1″ | 1″ | 1″ | 1″ | 1″ | 0″ to 2″ | 0″ to 2″ |
Range of supplemental summer water: 7"
Range of supplemental winter water: 0"-10"
0″-2″ |
0″-2″ |
0″-2″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
0″-2″ |
0″-2″ |
|
Jan* | Feb* | Mar* | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov* | Dec* |
For more information on how to use this Irrigation Schedule and Graph, follow this link.
For information how to calculate your irrigation system’s schedule and precipitation rate, please follow this link.
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