FIESTA BUCKWHEAT

Eriogonum caespitosum

Buckwheat Family (Polygonaceae)

This common Great Basin species is usually found on open, rocky soils in desert shrubland, sagebrush steppe, and pinyon-juniper woodland. It forms tight, flattened domes of tiny, sausage-shaped silver leaves. The plants feature a festive combination of yellow and red when in flower, with the balls of fuzzy yellow or pink blossoms held a short distance above the leaves on reddish stalks. The flowers become darker red as they age. The plants slowly increase in size, forming flattened mats a foot or more across. They begin flowering when quite small, and just get better over the years. Fiesta buckwheat makes a terrific rock garden plant in combination with other low plants like silver buckwheat, firleaf penstemon, dwarf goldenbush, and fringed puccoon. It needs full sun and good drainage to prosper.