Description

Coast buckwheat is commonly found on the immediate coast from San Luis Obispo County north into Oregon and Washington. The gray-green leaves grow in a dense, spreading mound. In mid-spring the spherical bunches of flowers rise above the plant. The flowers are usually creamy white with a pink blush, but can range into a solid pink. The flower heads produce abundant seed in dark rusty seed heads. The seed heads attract a variety of birds and will persist through the winter. Prune the spent seed heads back in the later winter to make way for new growth. Although a denizen of the immediate coast, coast buckwheat does quite well in Santa Clara County and the immediate Bay Area. Here in west San Jose it thrives in sunny locations with fairly good drainage and occasional water.