Crispleaf Buckwheat
Eriogonum corymbosum
- Native to:
- United States
iNaturalist: © evanofindiana (iNaturalist #243164050)






Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Polygonaceae
- Genus:
- Eriogonum
- Species:
- Eriogonum corymbosum
- USDA Symbol:
- ERCO14
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Subshrub
- Height:
- 120 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- white, yellow, cream
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Acmon blue (Plebejus acmon), Rita Blue (Euphilotes rita), Sheridan's green hairstreak (Callophrys sheridanii), Square-spotted blue (Euphilotes battoides)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Butterflies:Euphilotes ellisii
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- rust, bronze
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from woody base following fire. Common in fire-prone sagebrush and pinyon-juniper communities.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to arid, rocky habitats
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best with cold stratification. Light may improve germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: 6 prechilling treatments were used: 0,2,4,8,12,16 and 24 weeks of moist chilling at 2C in the dark.
Establishment: E. corymbosum flowers in late summer to fall and seeds ripen in late September to early November, depending on elevation. The germination response is likely related to habitat temperature, with seeds from warmer, lower elevation sites germinating faster than those from cooler, higher elevation sites.
Source: npn.rngr.net