Description
Form: A low-rounded shrub.
Lifespan: Perennial.
Leaf retention: Evergreen.
Growth rate: Slow to rapid depending on water.
Mature Size: 1-6' (0.3-1.8m) tall and 1-8' (0.3-2.4m) wide.
Flowers: White to pale pink, tiny, in fluffy dense clusters, at branch tips. The flowers turn brown and dry as they age, remaining on the plant.
Bloom: Spring, and sporadically through summer into early fall.
Fruit: A small, hard capsule containing one seed.
Leaves: Gray-green, small, narrow, leathery, densely covered in fine hairs underneath, clustered along the stem.
Stems: Herbaceous, rapidly becoming woody.
Roots: Fibrous, 5-8' (1.5-2.4m) deep and up to three times the width of the plant above ground.
Wildlife: The flowers attract bees and butterflies.
Toxic / Danger: No.
Origin: California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Mexico.

Cultivation and Uses
USDA hardiness zones:
Heat tolerant: Yes.
Drought tolerant: Yes.
Sun: Full sun.
Planting: Locate in full sun in dry, well-draining soil.
Soil: Very well draining, dry, low organic content, pH 7.6-8.5 (slightly alkaline to alkaline).
Water after becoming established: Once a month. More water results in better appearance. Consistently wet soil causes root rot.
Mulch: Never.
Prune: Lightly cut back on top every few years. Pruning is generally unnecessary.
Litter: Low.
Propagation: Seed and cuttings.
Uses: Ornamental ground cover, bee garden, low water (xeriscape) garden, erosion control.

Comments
This plant is a member of the Buckwheat family (Polygonaceae). California Buckwheat is an important bee plant.

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