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Products > Eriogonum grande var. rubescens   Eriogonum grande var. rubescens - San Miguel Island Buckwheat     [2nd Image] Habit and Cultural Information Category: Shrub Family: Polygonaceae (Knotweeds) Origin: California (U.S.A.) Evergreen: Yes Flower Color: Pink Bloomtime: Summer Height: 1-2 feet Width: 2-3 feet Exposure: Full Sun Seaside: Yes Summer Dry: Yes Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs Winter Hardiness: 15-20° F Eriogonum grande var. rubescens (San Miguel Island Buckwheat) - An evergreen small shrub that grows to 1 foot tall with the branches lying prostrate and spreading to 3 feet wide. It has small spoon-shaped leaves that are a gray-green on the upper surface and wooly below and in late spring through fall appear the inch wide pom pompon clusters of vivid pink flowers that are held above the foliage on a 2 foot tall branching inflorescence. Plant in full sun in sandy or even heavier clay soil with little to no irrigation. Hardy to 15 ° F. This great looking and durable buckwheat is both beautiful and its pollen and seed also attracts butterflies (Gray Hairstreak, Acmon Blue) and birds. This plant is native to San Miguel, Santa Cruz, and Santa Rosa islands in the Santa Barbara Channel Islands chain. The name for the genus comes from the Greek words 'erion' meaning "wool" and 'gonu' meaning a "joint" or a "knee", which some interpret to be in reference to the hairy joints of some of the species of the genus. The specific epithet is from the Latin word 'grandis' meaning "large", "grand" or "showy", and in this case it was likely for the showy flowers. The varietal name means "becoming red, again in reference to the pinkish red flowers.  The information on this page is based on research conducted about this plant in the San Marcos Growers library, from online sources, and from observations made of the crops growing in our nursery, plants in the nursery's garden and those in other gardens where we may have observed it. We also have incorporated comments received from others and welcome getting feedback from those who may have additional information, particularly if this information includes cultural information that would aid others in growing Eriogonum grande var. rubescens.     [MORE INFO]