# sulfur buckwheat (*Eriogonum umbellatum*) Sulfur buckwheat is a bright yellow flower that grows in rocky places. It loves sunny spots and can be found in dry areas, making it a special plant in nature. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 18 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![sulfur buckwheat](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Eriogonum_umbellatum_4672.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eriogonum_umbellatum_4672.JPG) ## Appearance The sulfur buckwheat is a low-growing, mat-forming perennial with clusters of vibrant sulfur-yellow flowers. Its leaves are typically green on top and fuzzy white underneath, often creating a striking two-toned appearance. Flower clusters gradually deepen to an orange or reddish hue as they age. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Polygonaceae - **Genus:** Eriogonum ## Interesting facts - Native peoples once ground its tiny seeds into flour for food! - This tough plant can grow even high up on mountains where few others survive! - Though called buckwheat, it's a wild cousin, not the kind used for pancakes! - Wow, its bright yellow flowers sometimes turn fiery orange or red with age! ## Special abilities - **Drought Master:** Sulfur buckwheat can thrive in extremely dry conditions thanks to its deep taproot system, reaching water deep underground. - **Color Changer:** Sulfur buckwheat has flowers that can change from bright yellow to orange or reddish as they mature, adding a splash of color. - **Soil Anchor:** Sulfur buckwheat has an extensive root system that helps it stabilize loose soil on slopes, preventing erosion. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-40 cm - **Spread:** 30-90 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — visits flowers for nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** Black-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus melanopygus*) — collects nectar and pollen from its abundant flowers - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — browses on its leaves and stems in dry habitats - **Pollinates:** [Great Spangled Fritillary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-spangled-fritillary) (*Speyeria cybele*) — sips nectar from its yellow blossoms ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Cluster Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [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 sulfur 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 sulfur buckwheat? 10-40 cm ### How wide does sulfur buckwheat spread? 30-90 cm ### How big are the flowers on sulfur buckwheat? 0.2-0.5 cm ### When does sulfur buckwheat bloom? Late spring to fall ### Is sulfur buckwheat edible? Yes ### Is sulfur buckwheat toxic? None ### What is sulfur buckwheat's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Dinosaur Ridge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dinosaur-ridge) — Colorado, US · Natural Landmark - [Jackson Lake Lodge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jackson-lake-lodge) — Wyoming, US · Historic Site - [Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-tahoe-basin-management-unit) — Nevada, US · Forest - [Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mono-lake-tufa-state-natural-reserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Mormon Row Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mormon-row-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Murie Ranch Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/murie-ranch-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District [View all places to see sulfur buckwheat](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/sulfur-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: [Sulfur Buckwheat: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sulfur-buckwheat)