Consulta Plantas

Care of the shrub Eriogonum giganteum or St Catherine's lace

The genus Eriogonum, family Polygonaceae, includes 250 species of flowering plants native to North America. Some species are: Eriogonum giganteum, Eriogonum wrightii, Eriogonum hirtellum, Eriogonum ursinum, Eriogonum compositum.

Common name: St Catherine's lace. This species is native to California.

They are fast-growing evergreen shrubs with a rounded bearing that reach 3 meters (9.84 feet) in height. They have oval, grayish leaves with a woolly and leathery texture. They produce branched flower tops with small white or pink flowers that turn reddish-brown. They can bloom from mid spring to early fall.

These easy-to-grow plants are used on dry slopes and in bushy groups with Ceanothus, Heuchera, Salvia and Yucca. They are ideal for Mediterranean coastal gardens and climates with very hot summers.

Eriogonum giganteum needs full sun exposure and a hot, dry climate. They resist frost down to -5 ºC (23 ºF).

The soil must drain very well; they can grow in clay soils (with good drainage), stony, sandy and poor.

Water moderately until they are established; once established they can be maintained with the little rains of the Mediterranean climate. They have very good resistance to drought.

They do not need fertilizers.

Prune withered inflorescences and shoot shoots to keep them compact.

They are very resistant plants to the usual pests and diseases.

They propagate from seeds sown in spring.

Images of the shrub Eriogonum giganteum or St Catherine's lace