Eriogonum douglassii or E. ovalifolium v. depressum
Eriogonums - |
Eriogonums are in the Buckwheat Family (Polygonaceae) and are native to North America, mainly in the west. They live in dryland areas as well as high alpine regions. However, two species are native to the Eastern USA. Eriogonums have an intriguing and subtle beauty many rock gardener's and wildflower enthusiasts love them even though they are not "G.R.A.S! "(Generally Recognized As Stunning!), although a few such as Ee.ovalifolium, shockleyi and caespitosum are wonderful. To some people their charming flowers and unusual foliage make them exciting plants to see in the wild and to thrilling to grow in their rock gardens. We grow ours in Dry Sand Beds where many kinds are thriving. | ||
 Eriogonum
ovalifolium v. ovalifolium- in the Sierra Nevada Mountains near
Lake Tahoe California(+ a little Astragalus or Oxytropus with bluish flowers)
Photo was taken on a field trip at the 1990 NARGS
Annual Meeting. |
The name Eriogonum is from the Greek erion, wool, and gonu, knee, from the wooly stems and leaves and swollen joints of the plants. So welcome to the Wooly-kneed Plant Pages! | A modicum of Botanical Information about eriogonums is available. | |
| Some small and medium sized eriogonums are wonderful
plants for a sunny rock garden. Some of the very small bun or mat forming
species are great trough plants. In gardens here in eastern North America
they all appreciate a very well drained soil mix. A dry
sand bed is a perfect place for them. Some eriogonums
in our garden are very happy while others are short lived.
Their common names, when they have them, are variations on "Sulfur Flower", Umbrella Plant" and "Wild Buckwheat". The pictures here show why these names were coined. They are also called "Wild Buckwheats". |
Eriogonum caespitosum, in central Idaho (Photo taken on a personal trip after the 1996 NARGS Annual Meeting) |
 E.
heracleoides in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah (Photo taken
on a personal trip after the 1996 NARGS
Annual Meeting) |
 and
E. umbellatum in our garden. |
|
Pictures and identification information about eriogonums in the wild, plus pictures of a number of unidentified or tentatively identified species. |
Some Pictures and identification information about eriogonums in our garden. |
| The Home page of the North American Rock Garden Society, NARGS | Disclaimer: I am trying to keep all the confusing taxonomy straight, but I am not a botanist or plant taxonomist (I am a biologist who works in a chemistry lab), so if you can help me with any identification or taxonomy questions please e-mail me. Suggestions for improving these pages are welcome. |
e-mail to: mslater@voicenet.com
20-April-1997
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visitors since 30-November-1997