Just three populations of the critically endangered annual Eriogonum truncatum, or Mount Diablo buckwheat, are known to exist in the wild, and their exact locations are all tightly held secrets.
This extremely rare plant grows in the wild only on Mount Diablo and its foothills.
But if you’ve ever wanted an opportunity to see the exceedingly rare buckwheat bloom up close and in person, now is the perfect time!
The UC Botanical Garden in Berkeley currently has several plants in its collection blooming and on display for a very limited time. The buckwheat is blooming right at the entrance to the garden.
A small cultivated population blooms in the UC Botanical Garden. Photo by Alexander Broom
A Brief History
Save Mount Diablo’s co-founder, Dr. Mary Bowerman, cataloged some of the last observations of the species back in 1936 before the species was lost for nearly seven decades.
In 2005, a population was discovered by UC Berkeley graduate student Michael Park on land protected by Save Mount Diablo.
UC Berkeley graduate student Michael Park with Mount Diablo buckwheat. Photo by Scott Hein
Just 20 individuals were then known to exist, and word quickly spread worldwide of the groundbreaking rediscovery.
Conservation and propagation efforts then began, and after about 10 years, with the help of the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley, the population increased tenfold.
Around that same time, a second population was found at Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve by Heath Bartosh.
Denise Castro and the Mount Diablo buckwheat. Photo by Scott Hein
Most recently in 2022, a third population was found on one of Save Mount Diablo’s properties by Save Mount Diablo’s then–Education & Outreach Associate, Denise Castro.
Each of these discoveries has been a career-defining moment.
How to See the Elusive Plants Up Close
UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley has a display of blooming Mount Diablo buckwheat near its entrance right now. Photo courtesy UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley
The plants remain critically endangered, and conservation efforts are still underway.
If you’d like to check out Mount Diablo buckwheats in all their glory, you can visit the garden daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 PM.
NARM/ROAM/AHS reciprocal members with card and ID get in for free, and others pay as much as $18 for entry.
These plants may only be in bloom for a few more weeks, so now is your chance. The plants are just feet from the main entrance, and the raised display features a brief description.
As for other conservation efforts, we were happy to report last year that the plants were thriving under exceptional drought conditions, with over 1.8 million estimated individuals and growing.
More Information on Mount Diablo Buckwheat
The Mount Diablo buckwheat presentation starts at 12:20 and ends at 30:00.
