Photo of Eriogonum giganteum flower by Stan Shebs

Photo by Stan Shebs

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Show all photos

Eriogonum giganteum

Also Known As

  • Eriogonum giganteum var. giganteum
  • Buckwheat
  • Saint Catherine's Lace
  • St. Catherine's Lace

Plant type

shrub

size

  • H: 3'-4'
  • W: 4'-5'

planting zones

  • 9a-11

More Options

Eriogonum giganteum plant details

Eriogonum giganteum is a broadleaf evergreen shrub with blue and white foliage. In fall, spring and summer bronze, red and white flowers emerge. Attracts bees, birds and butterflies making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun and occasional - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Prefers to be dry in summer, dry when dormant. Does well in average, clay and gritty soil. A good option if you're seeking something for erosion control, heat tolerant and seaside / salt tolerant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Eriogonum giganteum

Plant type: shrub
Plant family: polygonaceae
Foliage: evergreen blue and white
Mature size: 4 FT - 5 FT - wide, 3 FT - 4 FT - tall
Flowers: bronze, red and white blooms in fall, spring and summer
Uses: xeric

GROWING CONDITIONS for Eriogonum giganteum

USDA Zones: 9a - 11
Sun exposure: sun
Watering frequency: occasional - low
Resistant to: erosion, heat and seaside / salt
Soil needs: average, clay and gritty

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Eriogonum giganteum grows to 4 feet tall x 5 feet wide with attractive wooly, gray, oval leaves. It is the largest of the Buckwheats. It's also one of the most popular nectar sources for many butterflies, especially the California Blues & Hairstreaks. The profuse clusters of small white flowers start blooming in April and continue until Fall, when the flowers age to a rusty color. St. Catherine's Lace requires no Summer water once established & tolerates clay, though it thrives best in well-drained soil. Endemic to California, limited to Santa Catalina Island Provides nectar and pollen for both bees and butterflies. No Historical Uses found. Found in dry slopes and bluffs. Communitites located in Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub Between 0 and 1476 feet.
This branching shrub to 10' tall, is commonly broader than wide and forms a thick trunk with rough, shredding brown bark. The 3" evergreen leaves are thick and leathery and are covered with soft white hairs. Lace-like clusters of white to pink flowers bloom from April to October, then turn rust-brown with age. Adaptable shrub well-suited to coastal gardens. Deadhead in late fall to prevent breakage from winter rains. Hardy to about 20F. Santa Catalina and San Clemente Islands.
Eriogonums, or wild buckwheats, are a North American genus in the family Polygonaceae. The buckwheat grown as a crop is Polygonum fagopyrum (syn. Fagopyrum esculentum ), which is in a different genus of the same family; its seeds are ground to make a flour. The wild buckwheats are valued horticulturally both for foliage and flowers. They are mostly native to the western United States, and California alone has at least 100 kinds. The plants are not true herbs, but are weakly woody. In size, they range from tiny clumps only an inch high up to 6-foot bushes. Their flowers are small, but are massed in heads atop the flower-stalks and may be quite showy in aggregate. The usual flower colors are in the white-to-pink range or else yellow. Many species have leaves covered with white wool, which can give them considerable appeal as garden subjects. Eriogonum giganteum, known as St. Catherine’s Lace, is the largest species of all, and it is native to Santa Barbara Island off the coast of southern California. It is one of the species with wooly white leaves, and it has white flowers in summer which turn a rusty reddish color as they age. Like many of the California wild buckwheats, it thrives in Mediterranean gardens without needing summer irrigation.
The largest of all the “Buckwheats,” Eriogonum giganteum is EASY, very DROUGHT TOLERANT & tolerates hot, arid regions as well as coastal salt spray. It’s also one of the most popular nectar sources for many butterflies, especially the California Blues & Hairstreaks, quite a few of which are suffering from dwindling habitats. A very nice looking California native, Eriogonum giganteum is freely branching & grows to 4’ tall x 5’ wide with attractive wooly, gray, oval leaves. The longest blooming of all “Buckwheats,” it starts in April with large clusters of tiny, white flowers & keeps its bloom till Fall, when the flowers age to a rusty color. “St. Catherine’s Lace” requires no Summer water once established & tolerates clay, though it thrives best in well-drained soil. Native to Santa Catalina Island.

By: Annie's Annuals & Perennials

Gardening facts about Eriogonum giganteum plant

How to Grow Eriogonum giganteum

  • Sun Exposure

    • sun
  • Water Needs

    • occasional - drought tolerant
  • Water Needs

    • dry when dormant
  • Water Needs

    • dry in summer
  • Soil Needs

    • clay
    • average
    • gritty
  • Special Situation

    • heat tolerant
    • seaside / salt tolerant
    • erosion control

Features

  • Foliage Color

    • white
    • blue
  • Flower Color

    • white
    • red
    • bronze
  • Wildlife

    • birds
    • bees
    • butterflies
  • Flower Season

    • fall
    • summer
    • spring
  • Foliage Season

    • evergreen

Landscape groups by tags

Mailing List
Sign Up for updates on new plant arrivals and deals

© 2010—2024 Plant Lust, LLC All Rights Reserved