Eriogonum jamesii aka Antelope Sage

Eriogonum jamesii has two common names: James' buckwheat and antelope sage. It belongs to the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae. Kew places its native range from Colorado to Texas. Plants For A Future gives a wider US and Mexican range. It lists Arizona, Kansas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. It also lists parts of northern and central Mexico. The plant is not native to Britain or Ireland.

This small perennial grows for more than one year. It reaches about 1 foot [0.3 metres] tall. Its spread reaches about 1.6 feet [0.5 metres]. Kew classes it as a subshrub. Wild plants grow on flats and slopes with sand or gravel. They grow on rocky ground less often. They live in grasslands, dry shrublands, and mountain woods. These sites cover several kinds of dry plant communities. They lie at heights of 4,265 to 9,514 feet [1,300–2,900 metres].

Plants For A Future gives August to September as bloom time. Each flower has both male and female organs. The supplied species sources give no flower colour or fruit details. They give no species-level facts about leaves, stems, or bark. The RHS page describes leaves and flowers for the genus only. Those facts cannot safely describe this species from the sources given.

Grow it in full sun and loose, lean, gritty soil. Sand and loam suit it if water drains well. It can grow in poor soil with few nutrients. It accepts soil that is slightly acid or slightly alkaline. Neutral soil suits it too. Plants For A Future lists both dry and moist soil. Good drainage is key; keep it safe from winter wet. It stands up to strong winds, but not coastal exposure. Once plants take root, they dislike disturbance around their roots. The source gives USDA zones 4–8 for hardiness.

Its small size suits garden beds with the right soil and sun. Sow ripe seed in autumn, or stored seed in early spring. Plants For A Future says to keep seedlings under glass through their first winter. Plant them out after the last expected frost. You can divide plants in spring, but take care around roots. The source reports no weed concern and no known edible uses. It lists no known hazards, but this does not prove safety for people or pets. Records of Indigenous use as medicine involve roots and the whole plant. These past uses do not prove home treatments safe or effective.