JAMES BUCKWHEAT

Eriogonum jamesii

Buckwheat Family (Polygonaceae)

This cushion plant closely resembles its smaller relative sulfurflower buckwheat, but it is more robust, with larger, rounded leaves that are fuzzy rather than shiny. It also has larger, more showy flowers which occur in almost perfect balls at the tips of the branches and are a pretty, soft yellow, at least in Colorado Plateau forms. James buckwheat is most often found in open desert shrub and pinyon-juniper communities on shallow, rocky soils. It does not compete well with grasses. It makes a good plant for a rock garden or low perennial border. It combines well with showy sandwort, prairie zinnia and other early summer-flowering perennials. James buckwheat and many other buckwheats make great dried flower arrangements. Just pick when in full flower, before the seeds start to form—the dried flower heads keep their shape and color for a long time.