''Eriogonum crocatum'', the Conejo buckwheat or saffron buckwheat, is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of '' Eriogonum'', or wild buckwheat. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to the Conejo Valley and surrounding regions in Ventura County,

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

Jepson
. accessed 7.1.2012. It grows on open, dry hillsides, often in crags in rock faces.

Description

''Eriogonum crocatum'' is a perennial shrub less than high by wide. Its foliage is a striking silvery green, with woolly leaves. The Conejo buckwheat flowers from April–August, bearing clusters of tiny bright, sulfur yellow flowers. It has no dormancy period.

Cultivation

''Eriogonum crocatum'' has entered limited cultivation in

native plant In biogeography, a native species is indigenous to a given region or ecosystem if its presence in that region is the result of only local natural evolution (though often popularised as "with no human intervention") during history. The term is equ ...

gardens and

xeriscaping Xeriscaping is the process of Garden design, landscaping, or gardening, that reduces or eliminates the need for irrigation. It is promoted in regions that do not have accessible, plentiful, or reliable supplies of fresh water and has gained accep ...

. It likes sun and is drought tolerant. It rarely exceeds 0.5 m in height and 1 m in width, so it makes an excellent accent plant. It thrives in clay soils and survives some other soils. It is reportedly difficult to cultivate outside of the southern California area. It can tolerate light freezes.

References

External links

Jepson Manual treatment: ''Eriogonum crocatum''''Eriogonum crocatum'' — U.C.Photo gallery
crocatum Endemic flora of California Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands Natural history of the Santa Monica Mountains Natural history of Ventura County, California Garden plants of North America Drought-tolerant plants {{Polygonaceae-stub