Practical
Plants

Eriogonum latifolium

Seaside Buckwheat

a perennial member of the Eriogonum genus in the family Polygonaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.6 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young stems - raw[2]. Tender[3][4]. Eaten by children in early summer[6].

Plant part
Stem

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A decoction of the root, stalk and leaves has been used in the treatment of headaches, stomach aches, coughs and colds[6]. A decoction of the roots has been used as a wash for sore eyes[6].

Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Ophthalmic
Product or use
Stomachic

Environment

Range
South-western N. America - California.
Habitat
Cliffs and sandy places near the coast[7].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind
Wind
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a sandy compost in a greenhouse. Sow stored seed in early spring in a warm greenhouse[1]. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in early spring[1]. This has to be done with care because the plant resents root disturbance[5]. Try to obtain divisions from around the edges of the plants without digging up the whole clump. Tease the divisions out with as much root on them as possible and pot them up. Grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse until they are rooting well and plant them out in the summer. Cuttings of greenwood with a heel in the summer[5].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a loose lean gritty well-drained soil in a very sunny position[5]. Succeeds in dry soils. Tolerates exposed positions[5]. Requires some protection from winter wet[1]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[5]. Established plants resent root disturbance[5].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩

  4. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  6. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Munz. A California Flora. University of California Press 1959-00-00

    ↩

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