# Cushion Buckwheat (*eriogonum ovalifolium*) Cushion Buckwheat (Eriogonum ovalifolium) is an incredibly resilient, low-growing perennial herb native to the dry, mountainous regions of western North America. Forming dense, velvet-textured cushions or mats close to the stony ground, this plant is a marvel of adaptation to harsh, windswept environments. In late spring and summer, these compact, silvery-green mounds burst into a spectacular display of globe-like flower clusters, which transition beautifully from creamy white or yellow to deep shades of pink and rust. It plays a vital role in its native desert and alpine ecosystems, stabilizing loose gravelly soils and providing essential nourishment for diverse pollinators. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Found in dry, open sandy or gravelly slopes, sagebrush scrublands, and alpine ridges throughout western North America. ![Cushion Buckwheat](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/541095926/medium.jpg) Photo: no rights reserved, uploaded by Kallum McDonald, CC0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/541095926) ## Appearance This plant is easily identified by its distinctive compact, cushion-like growth habit, typically rising only 5 to 20 cm off the ground. Its small, oval-shaped leaves are covered in dense, woolly white hairs that give the entire plant a silvery-sage or dusty-gray appearance. From these dense mats rise leafless, upright stems topped with spherical flower heads (1 to 3 cm in diameter). The tiny, bell-shaped flowers range in color from white and yellow to cream, turning pinkish, reddish, or papery brown as they age and dry out on the stem. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Polygonaceae - **Genus:** Eriogonum ## Interesting facts - Native American tribes, such as the Paiute and Shoshone, historically used various parts of this plant to make medicinal teas for colds. - The flower heads dry out beautifully on the living plant, changing from vibrant whites and yellows to papery rust-reds that can persist through winter. - The woolly hairs on the leaves of Cushion Buckwheat act like tiny sweaters, trapping a boundary layer of air to prevent water loss. ## Special abilities - **Woolly Heat Shield:** The dense covering of fine, white hairs on its leaves reflects intense solar radiation and significantly reduces moisture loss from drying wind. - **Soil-Hugging Habit:** Growing in a low, dense cushion minimizes exposure to harsh winds and helps trap heat near the ground in cold alpine environments. - **Deep Taproot Anchor:** It develops a robust, woody taproot that penetrates deep into rocky soils to access scarce water reserves and secure the plant. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 5-20 cm - **Lifespan:** 5-20 years ## Diet & Feeding As a photoautotroph, this plant produces its own energy through photosynthesis, utilizing sunlight, carbon dioxide, water, and minerals from the soil. - **Primary Foods:** Sunlight, Carbon dioxide, Water, Soil minerals ## Ecological connections - **Host plant:** Mormon Metalmark (*Apodemia mormo*) — Serves as an essential larval host plant and nectar source for the caterpillars and adult butterflies. - **Mutualism:** Mining Bee (*Andrena spp.*) — Pollinated by various native bees, which gather pollen and nectar from its abundant flowers. - **Eaten by:** [Bighorn Sheep](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bighorn-sheep) (*Ovis canadensis*) — Sometimes grazed upon by big game animals when other food sources are scarce in rocky alpine terrains. ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Cushion Buckwheat? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Cushion Buckwheat? 5-20 cm ### How long does Cushion Buckwheat live? 5-20 years ### What does Cushion Buckwheat eat? As a photoautotroph, this plant produces its own energy through photosynthesis, utilizing sunlight, carbon dioxide, water, and minerals from the soil. ### Where is Cushion Buckwheat usually found? Found in dry, open sandy or gravelly slopes, sagebrush scrublands, and alpine ridges throughout western North America. ## Where to spot - [Great Northern Railway Buildings](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/great-northern-railway-buildings) — Montana, US · Historic Site - [North Entrance Road Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/north-entrance-road-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Sherburne Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sherburne-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/craters-of-the-moon-national-monument-and-preserve) — Idaho, US · National Park [View all places to see Cushion Buckwheat](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/cushion-buckwheat) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Cushion Buckwheat: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cushion-buckwheat)