Coastal Buckwheat

Coastal Buckwheat is a perennial herb variable in size and flower color depending on its location along the coast. The plant may be small or sprawling, with a maximum height of 70 cm. The pale white-green leaves are wooly and ovate, growing mostly around the base. The thin, slightly hairy stems, which typically grow directly upright or extending out to the side, bear dense clusters of white to pinkish flowers. The minute flowers bloom in such dense clusters like pom-poms.

Basic Information

• Member of the Polygonaceae (Buckwheat) Family

• Perennial herb or subshrub

Habitat

• Native from the coastline of the western United States from Washington to central California

• Found primarily on the coastal bluffs and scrubs

  • Prefers to grow in full sun close to the ocean, but like partial shade further inland

Ecological Role

• Buckwheats are important pollinator plants that attract a variety of insects

Reproduction

• Blooms all year long due to the low, frost-free marine temperature

Alternative Names

• Coast Erigonum, Seaside Buckwheat, and Wild Buckwheat

Historical Uses

• A decoction of this plant, employed by many tribes including the Ohlone and Round Valley Native Americans, was used for:

  • Colds and coughs

  • Stomach pains

  • Headaches

  • Menstrual cramps

• The young stems of this plant were eaten by children of the Mendocino Indians