# Snow Buckwheat (*Eriogonum niveum*)

Snow Buckwheat is a beautiful plant with small, white flowers that look like little snowflakes. It grows in rocky places and is a favorite for butterflies and bees.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Mountain regions

![Snow Buckwheat](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Eriogonum_niveum.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Clarence Kelley. USDA NRCS Pullman PMC. United States, WA, Pullman., Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eriogonum_niveum.jpg)

## Appearance

The Snow Buckwheat has fuzzy, silvery-green leaves forming low mounds. Its tiny, creamy white to pinkish flowers cluster densely on stalks, often looking like small, soft pom-poms from late spring into fall.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Caryophyllales
- **Family:** Polygonaceae
- **Genus:** Eriogonum

## Interesting facts

- It can grow in very harsh, dry places, proving it's one of nature's toughest little survivors!
- Its scientific name, "niveum," means "snowy," perfectly describing its white, fluffy appearance!
- Some people call it "snow buckwheat" because its flower clusters often look like tiny, soft snowballs!
- The tiny flowers are so small, you might need a magnifying glass to see their intricate beauty!

## Special abilities

- **Woolly Warmth:** Snow Buckwheat has fuzzy, woolly leaves that help it trap moisture and protect itself from harsh sun and dry winds.
- **Deep Drinker:** Snow Buckwheat can grow a long taproot, helping it find water deep underground in dry, rocky soils.
- **Rock Climber:** Snow Buckwheat can thrive in rocky, challenging landscapes where many other plants struggle to grow.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-30 cm
- **Spread:** 10-50 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.4 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late Spring to Fall
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Two-form Bumblebee (*Bombus bifarius*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.
- **Eats:** [Deer Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/deer-mouse) (*Peromyscus maniculatus*) — Consumes its energy-rich seeds.
- **Depends on:** [Big Sagebrush](https://www.snappit.app/explore/big-sagebrush) (*Artemisia tridentata*) — Often grows alongside in shared dry habitats.
- **Pollinates:** [Western Tiger Swallowtail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-tiger-swallowtail) (*Papilio rutulus*) — A large butterfly that sips nectar.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch wild plants, as some can be prickly or not safe.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Snow 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 tall is Snow Buckwheat?

10-30 cm

### How wide does Snow Buckwheat spread?

10-50 cm

### How big are the flowers on Snow Buckwheat?

0.2-0.4 cm

### When does Snow Buckwheat bloom?

Late Spring to Fall

### Is Snow Buckwheat edible?

No

### Is Snow Buckwheat toxic?

None

### What is Snow Buckwheat's lifecycle?

Perennial

## 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*)

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Source: [Snow Buckwheat: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/snow-buckwheat)