Santa Fe Botanical Garden

Common name: antelope sage

Family: Polygonaceae (Buckwheat)

Distribution: Western United States

Habitat: Plains, hillsides, mesas, woodlands

Hardiness: USDA Zone 4 (-30 to -20 °F)

Life form: Deciduous shrub/sub-shrub

Occurrence in New Mexico: New Mexico native plant

Growing Conditions: James’ buckwheat is native to the central and southwestern states, from Arizona and Utah, east through Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico, to Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, and south to northern Mexico. We have two varieties in New Mexico: var. undulatum known only from Hidalgo County and var. jamesii, which is widespread throughout the state on plains, mesas, foothills, and in pine and spruce woodlands. It typically grows on dry, rocky slopes, at elevations from 5,000-8,000 feet.

Description: James' buckwheat is a low growing species (4-8 inches high) that grows from a taproot and can form extensive mats up to several feet across. The leaves vary somewhat, depending on the environment, but they are usually narrowly elliptical. They are mostly basal, with stalks about the same length as the leaves, green and somewhat hairy on the upper sides and silvery and densely covered with flattened, matted hairs on the undersides. Cream-colored flower clusters branch from the plant center, attached by short stalks (stipes). The flower petals are hairy and red-tipped leaf-like bracts surround the base of the flowerheads.