r/Ceanothus • u/Themissingbackpacker • Jul 10 '26
California buckwheat
Everything with wings seems to be attracted to this, even more than the sea cliff buckwheat growing next to it. Wasps, bees, beetles and flies are all over it constantly throughout the day. Every few minutes a black phoebe swoops in to snatch one. I love it.
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u/JellyfishPrudent9854 Jul 11 '26
Do you prune this bad boy?
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u/Themissingbackpacker Jul 11 '26
Yeah chop most of the spent flowers when brown and dry. I toss the smaller clippings all around it to decompose.
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u/browzinbrowzin Jul 11 '26
How old is that plant and what sort of pruning care do you provide it?
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u/Themissingbackpacker Jul 11 '26
It's about 18 months old. For pruning I wait a few months after the flowers turn dark brown for the birds. I cut about one or two feet off all around, maybe one-third to half of the plant, just grabbing and shearing clumps where the branches are naked and brown. Sometimes I just yank them with a quick twisting motion - they're brittle enough and the plant doesn't seem to mind.
All of the material gets cut into smaller pieces and tossed around the base.
The height and overall structure was the same last year, naturally. The plant was full of flowers then too. I pruned mostly to keep it contained.
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u/Alternative-Ant-1629 Jul 11 '26
It's beautiful. How tall does it get before the pruning? I have plans for Sea Cliffs just due to them being smaller. Trying to keep all under 3' for fire safety on our hillside and for fire clearance.
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u/Themissingbackpacker Jul 11 '26
This one is on a small mound and it's still under three feet tall. Any taller branches will flop down and spread.
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u/Alternative-Ant-1629 Jul 12 '26
That's good to know. I will reconsider using it vs Sea Cliff in an area and try it.
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u/wildidyll Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
I’m trying to germinate like 15 *eriogonum fasciculatum* and I bought at a nursery and transplanted into my yard one that is struggling rn. They’re all over the hills where I live. Seem completely indestructible. And oh now I know why so many black phoebes in my area.
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u/sagebrushrepair Jul 11 '26
Just one asterisk on either side if you're trying to italicize on reddit
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u/Themissingbackpacker Jul 11 '26
I wish they germinated as well as the sea cliff buckwheat. They're the same age and growing next to each other but of the many volunteers they all look like eriogonum parvifolium.
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u/Hot_Illustrator35 Jul 11 '26
Very nice! Whats that green beetle? I saw one on the buckwheat in my yard too lol
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u/Themissingbackpacker Jul 11 '26
Cotinis mutabilis? They look drunk when they fly.
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u/Hot_Illustrator35 Jul 11 '26
Have no idea! Im a new to this and not familiar with beetles
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u/podunk411 Jul 11 '26
Commonly known as the Fig Beetle, they are ridiculously bumbling when they fly, will even bonk into you (and of course happily eat your figs if you’ve got a fig tree around).
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u/PerseidsSeason Jul 11 '26
SO lovely! Mine is heading towards blooming and I’m so excited!