Eriogonum (compositum)

Lee Riley Horticulturist USDA FS - Dorena Genetic Resource Center 34963 Shoreview Road Cottage Grove, Oregon 97424 541-915-7324 541-767-5709 (fax) lee.riley@usda.gov

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Family Scientific Name:	Polygonaceae
Family Common Name:	Buckwheat
Scientific Name:	Eriogonum compositum
Common Name:	Arrowleaf buckwheat
Species Code:	ERCO12
Ecotype:	Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Josephine County, Oregon
General Distribution:	Chiefly east of the Cascades in Washington; Washington south to California, east to Idaho. Dry, open areas, rocky slopes and cliffs from low to moderate elevations in the mountains.
Propagation Goal:	Plants
Propagation Method:	Seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	262 ml (16 in3) container
Time To Grow:	16 weeks
Target Specifications:	Stock Type: Container seedling Root System: Firm plug in container.
Propagule Collection:	The three-sided achene can be hand-stripped from the plant.
Propagule Processing:	Propagate only by seed as it is nearly impossible to transplant or divide the long taproots of mature plants. Plant seed thickly as germination is low.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Seeds are placed into a 1% hydrogen peroxide (3:1 water/3% hydrogen peroxide) soak for 24 hours, rinsed, and placed in water for an additional 24 hours. Seeds are placed in fine mesh bags and layered in peat in a covered container. The containers are then placed in refrigeration at 1 to 3 °C for 60 days. It is very important to check seeds in peat weekly. If mold is evident, seeds should be treated with 1% hydrogen peroxide.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Greenhouse growing facility. Seeds are directly sown into containers. Seeds are lightly covered with nursery grit. Growing medium used is 40:20:20:20 peat:composted fir bark:perlite:pumice with Nutricote controlled release fertilizer (18N:6P2O5:8K2O with minors; 180-d release rate at 21C) at the rate of 1.5 gram Nutricote per 262 ml container. Seedlings remain in the greenhouse for 16 weeks, and are then moved to an outdoor growing area to induce dormancy. Average growing season of nursery is from mid-March until early October.
Establishment Phase:	Germination can be low, depending on seed quality. It is usually complete in 2 to 3 weeks.
Length of Establishment Phase:	2 weeks
Active Growth Phase:	Seedlings grow rapidly throughout the active growth phase. When secondary leaves have formed (approximately 2 weeks following germination), soluble fertilizer is applied. During the growing season, fertilization depends on weather. Soluble 20-9-20 NPK, 20-18-18 NPK, or 17-5-24 NPK at a range of 100 to 150 ppm is applied weekly throughout the growing season.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	14 weeks
Hardening Phase:	No dry-down is done to induce dormancy. Seedlings are moved to an outdoor growing area in early-September.
Length of Hardening Phase:	2 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Harvest Date: Mid-October Storage Conditions: Seedlings are usually outplanted in fall to early winter. No storage except in outdoor growing area. Plants are well irrigated prior to shipping and shipped in containers.
Other Comments:	This is a highly variable species in a genus of many species, most of which are difficult to distinguish from one another. The seeds are an important food for small wildlife, including ants. The usually large, heart-shaped leaves that are green on top and woolly white beneath will usually identify this species.
References:	Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. nd. Eriogonum compositum Douglas ex Benth. URL: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ERCO12 (accessed 6 Oct 2018). Knoke D., Giblin D. nd. Eriogonum compositum. Seattle (WA): Burke Museum Herbarium, University of Washington. URL: http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection/taxon.php?Taxon=Eriogonum compositum (accessed 6 Oct 2018). Dorena Genetic Resource Center Propagation Records, unpublished.

Citation:

Riley, Lee E.; Klocke, Allison. 2018. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Eriogonum compositum Plants 262 ml (16 in3) container; USDA FS - Dorena Genetic Resource Center Cottage Grove, Oregon. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/04/20). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.