When does St. Catherine's Lace bloom?

St. Catherine's Lace typically flowers from June through September, with large rounded flower clusters that start creamy white and fade to a rusty rose as they age.

What pollinators visit St. Catherine's Lace?

The flowers attract a wide range of bees, butterflies, and moths, making this shrub a valuable nectar source in summer gardens.

How much water does St. Catherine's Lace need?

This shrub prefers low water once established and tolerates occasional supplemental irrigation, but it does not do well in consistently wet or poorly drained soil.

What kind of light does St. Catherine's Lace need?

It grows best in full sun and can also handle part sun, especially in hotter inland locations where some afternoon relief helps.

What growing conditions suit St. Catherine's Lace?

It does well on dry, rocky or sandy slopes with good drainage, similar to the coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitats it occurs in naturally.

Is St. Catherine's Lace HOA-friendly?

St. Catherine's Lace is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

St. Catherine's Lace

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Eriogonum giganteum

Last reviewed: September 2026

St. Catherine's Lace is an evergreen shrub with silvery leaves and large white to cream flower clusters that bloom from June through September on the California Channel Islands and coastal slopes.

St. Catherine's Lace (Eriogonum giganteum) is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs or cats (aspca.org (opens in new tab), last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

36"–96" H × 36"–96" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Native to

Pollinators

bees, butterflies, moths

Before you buy

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains Southern California Mountains Southern California/Northern Baja Coast

St. Catherine's Lace is a dramatic native shrub known for its large, flat clusters of creamy white flowers that hover above silvery-gray foliage. This drought-tolerant buckwheat grows into a rounded shape 3-8 feet tall and wide, creating an architectural focal point in the landscape. The flowers age to a rusty brown color that provides winter interest.

Growing St. Catherine's Lace

Grow St. Catherine's Lace in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 36 to 96 inches tall and spread 36 to 96 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

St. Catherine's Lace is an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 3 out of 5.

Works well in: foundation, mid zone.

Large size can become dominant if not given adequate space
Brown seed heads may appear untidy to some
May look too informal for very structured landscapes

Wildlife value

This plant is extremely valuable to native pollinators, attracting numerous bee species, butterflies, and moths with its abundant nectar-rich flowers. Birds will also visit the plant for seeds after flowering.

Common questions

When does St. Catherine's Lace bloom?: St. Catherine's Lace typically flowers from June through September, with large rounded flower clusters that start creamy white and fade to a rusty rose as they age.
What pollinators visit St. Catherine's Lace?: The flowers attract a wide range of bees, butterflies, and moths, making this shrub a valuable nectar source in summer gardens.
How much water does St. Catherine's Lace need?: This shrub prefers low water once established and tolerates occasional supplemental irrigation, but it does not do well in consistently wet or poorly drained soil.
What kind of light does St. Catherine's Lace need?: It grows best in full sun and can also handle part sun, especially in hotter inland locations where some afternoon relief helps.
What growing conditions suit St. Catherine's Lace?: It does well on dry, rocky or sandy slopes with good drainage, similar to the coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitats it occurs in naturally.
Is St. Catherine's Lace toxic to dogs?: St. Catherine's Lace is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs (aspca.org).
Is St. Catherine's Lace toxic to cats?: St. Catherine's Lace is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for cats (aspca.org).
Is St. Catherine's Lace HOA-friendly?: St. Catherine's Lace is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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