Sarah’s Buckwheat: A Rare Southwestern Native Worth Knowing
Meet Sarah’s buckwheat (Eriogonum lachnogynum var. sarahiae), a lesser-known native wildflower that calls the American Southwest home. While you might not find this perennial forb at your local garden center, it represents an intriguing piece of our native plant puzzle that’s worth understanding, even if growing it presents some unique challenges.
What Makes Sarah’s Buckwheat Special?
Sarah’s buckwheat belongs to the diverse Eriogonum genus, commonly known as wild buckwheats. This particular variety is a perennial forb, meaning it’s an herbaceous plant that returns year after year without developing woody stems above ground. Like other members of its family, it likely produces clusters of small flowers that can be quite charming in the right setting.
You might occasionally see this plant referenced by its synonym, Eriogonum sarahiae, in older botanical literature or specialized publications.
Where Does It Call Home?
This native beauty has a rather exclusive address—it’s found only in Arizona and New Mexico. Its limited geographic range suggests it has very specific habitat requirements and may be adapted to particular soil types, elevations, or microclimates found in these southwestern states.
The Challenge of Growing Sarah’s Buckwheat
Here’s where things get a bit tricky for the home gardener. Sarah’s buckwheat appears to be quite rare, with limited information available about its specific growing requirements, appearance, or garden performance. This scarcity of information suggests several possibilities:
- It may be naturally rare in the wild
- It might have very specific growing requirements that make cultivation challenging
- It could be a recently described variety with limited horticultural study
Should You Try to Grow It?
While the idea of growing a rare native plant is certainly appealing, Sarah’s buckwheat presents some real challenges for the home gardener. Without clear information about its growing conditions, hardiness zones, or care requirements, attempting to cultivate this plant would be largely guesswork.
If you’re interested in this particular species, your best bet would be to:
- Contact local native plant societies in Arizona or New Mexico
- Reach out to botanical gardens or universities in the region
- Connect with specialized native plant nurseries that focus on rare southwestern species
Native Alternatives to Consider
If you’re drawn to the idea of growing native buckwheats in your southwestern garden, consider some of the better-known Eriogonum species that are more readily available and have established growing guidelines. Many wild buckwheats are excellent choices for xeriscaping and provide valuable resources for pollinators.
Local native plant experts can help you identify which buckwheat species are appropriate for your specific location and growing conditions, ensuring you can enjoy these beautiful natives while supporting local ecosystems.
The Bottom Line
Sarah’s buckwheat remains something of a mystery in the gardening world. While its native status makes it theoretically desirable for authentic southwestern landscapes, the lack of cultivation information means it’s not a practical choice for most gardeners right now. Sometimes the most responsible approach with rare natives is to appreciate them in their natural habitats while choosing better-understood relatives for our gardens.
Who knows? As interest in native plants continues to grow, we may eventually see more research and cultivation guidance for unique varieties like Sarah’s buckwheat. Until then, there are plenty of other beautiful southwestern natives ready to thrive in your garden!
