Sulphur-flower Buckwheat | Eriogonum umbellatum

Yellow wildflowers with green leaves growing in a natural, grassy area.
A shrub of sulphur-flower buckwheat. Photo credit: Steve Matson.
A close-up of a vibrant flowering plant with small red buds, surrounded by other pots of greenery in the background.
A close up of an orange sulphur-flower buckwheat flower.
The image shows a lush green plant with broad leaves, growing in a garden pot, surrounded by more vegetation.
The leaves of sulphur-flower buckwheat.
The image shows a close-up of a green flowering plant with clustered buds and small blossoms.
A close up of a yellow sulphur-flower buckwheat flower.
Yellow wildflowers with green leaves growing in a natural, grassy area.
A close-up of a vibrant flowering plant with small red buds, surrounded by other pots of greenery in the background.
The image shows a lush green plant with broad leaves, growing in a garden pot, surrounded by more vegetation.
The image shows a close-up of a green flowering plant with clustered buds and small blossoms.

This low-growing plant is extremely variable and has an astounding 13 varieties in Oregon alone. Most commonly, it forms mats of triangular leaves and yellow to orange umbel flowers from an ascending stalk. This species is known to be highly attractive to many insect species and bloomsthroughout late summer.

 

Plant Details

Habitats Upland Prairie and Savanna
Habitat Notes Does best in full sun, dry slopes 
Phenology Perennial; flowering May-September
Mature Height Up to 1 foot
Shade Tolerance Full sun
Soil Tolerance Dry rocky well-drained soil
Special Uses The seeds for this species serve as a food source for birds; nectar source for bees and butterflies; a common host plant for many caterpillar species