Plant Library

Other Names:  California Buckwheat

Description:

A sprawling, low growing plant used in low maintenance xeriscaping; a native groundcover featuring dark green, small, needle-like leaves and pinkish-white flowers in summer that persist for a long time; excellent for dry slopes and erosion control

Ornamental Features

Warriner Lytle Buckwheat features showy clusters of white flowers with shell pink overtones rising above the foliage from late spring to late fall, which emerge from distinctive rose flower buds. The flowers are excellent for cutting. It has attractive dark green evergreen foliage which emerges light green in spring. The small narrow leaves are highly ornamental and remain dark green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Warriner Lytle Buckwheat is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a shapely form and gracefully arching branches. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which should be used to full effect.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting birds, bees and butterflies to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Self-Seeding

Warriner Lytle Buckwheat is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens

Planting & Growing

Warriner Lytle Buckwheat will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years. As this plant tends to go dormant in summer, it is best interplanted with late-season bloomers to hide the dying foliage.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in poor soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selection of a native North American species.; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.