About Eriogonum arborescens Greene
Eriogonum arborescens is a woody shrub that reaches 6–15 decimetres (2.0–4.9 ft) in height and spreads 5–30 decimetres (1.6–9.8 ft) in diameter. Its stems are covered in shreddy maroon-brown bark. Narrow, fuzzy green leaves grow at the ends of the branches; each leaf is 2 to 5 centimeters long, and sometimes has rolled-under edges. Frilly inflorescences of densely clustered flowers grow upright on nearly naked peduncles. Each flower is only a few millimeters wide, very light pink, and has nine protruding stamens. This species blooms from April to October. This shrub is endemic to the northern Channel Islands of California, excluding San Miguel Island. It grows in coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitats, at elevations between 10–600 metres (33–1,969 ft). This species, like most buckwheats of the Eriogonum genus, is of special value to butterflies and native bees. Eriogonum arborescens is cultivated as an ornamental plant. It is planted in native plant gardens, drought-tolerant gardens, butterfly gardens, other types of wildlife gardens, and used in larger designed natural landscaping and habitat restoration projects.
