E. umbellatum v. aureum ‘Psdowns’ Kannah Creek buckwheat
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| E. umbellatum v. aureun 'Psdowns' Kannah Creek buckwheat |
Photo: The pollinator garden at the Hills of Standley Lake Park, Arvada, Colorado. Kannah Creek Sulphur Buckwheat pictured at the bottom of photo with its bright showy yellow blooms.
Kannah Creek Sulphur Buckwheat is a wonderful addition to any garden and is one of my favorites. Especially if you are looking for a xeriscaping plant that will require low maintenance and requires small amounts of water once established. This hardy perennial hales from western Colorado and attracts pollinators such as butterflies, birds and bees. This showy ground cover shows bright yellow flowers that begin to arrive in mid-June. As the weeks pass into late summer the flowers will become more orange rusty color as this plant has an extended blooming period. Although hard to find these days, Kannah Creek Sulphur Buckwheat won the 2007 plant select award. It is extremely drought resistant and prefers full sun. It does well in a rock garden or in alpine landscapes.
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| Courtesy: High Country Gardens |
Ground covers can easily spread and once matured Kannah Creek Sulphur Buckwheat can reach 12-15’ tall and 15-24’ width. The blooms hold up well and can be used in dried flower arrangements. Ground covers are a great way to add color and texture to your garden. This is a great ground cover for steep slopes where grass may be hard to grow. In addition, it is great for hot, dry on south or west exposures. This particular ground cover prefers full sun as well as being planted in “lean” sandy, gravelly or garden loam soils. Avoid heavy clay soils. You may mulch although not necessary. Make sure to irrigate regularly during the first season to help establish the plant. After that they won't require much maintenance. Important tip with this plant is to not deadhead as showy seed heads will be lost and the seeds are also used by many insects and animals as a food source.
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| Courtesy: High Country Gardens |
Why is this one of my favorites? Simply because it's super low maintenance, hardy and I love the yellow flowers. This is the ground cover everyone asks about whenever they visit the gardens walk and see me.
I’ve included a couple of links to get you started. This is an easy plant that will be a fabulous addition to your pollinator garden.
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/xeriscaping-ground-cover-plants-7-230/
https://www.highcountrygardens.com/perennial-plants/unique-plants/eriogonum-umbellatum-v-aureum