Native California buckwheat is drought tolerant, an important nectar source for pollinators and beautiful to look at. Anza Valley Outlook/Diane Sieker photo
As the hot, dry days of summer settle over the Anza Valley, hillsides and washes begin to brighten with the familiar blooms of California buckwheat. Though not related to wheat, this hardy native shrub is one of the region's most beneficial and beautiful plants.California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) is native to the southwestern United States and grows naturally on slopes, canyons, chaparral-covered hillsides and dry washes from San Diego County to Marin County, California. It is also found in Utah, Arizona and northwestern Mexico.The shrub forms a compact, spreading bush that can reach up to 6 feet tall and 9 feet wide. Its small leaves grow in clusters along the branches and are leathery, with fuzzy undersides and rolled edges. During summer, dense clusters of tiny pink an
