Sulphur-Flower Buckwheat
Eriogonum umbellatum var. polyanthum
- Native to:
- United States
GBIF: Jonathan Amegin
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Polygonaceae
- Genus:
- Eriogonum
- Species:
- Eriogonum umbellatum var. polyanthum
- USDA Symbol:
- ERPO16
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Shrub , Subshrub
- Height:
- 30 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow, cream
- Ground Cover:
- 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
Chalceria heteronea, Comstock's hairstreak (Callophrys comstocki), Dotted Blue (Euphilotes enoptes), Lembert's hairstreak (Callophrys lemberti), Lupine Blue (Plebejus lupini), Melissa Blue (Lycaeides melissa), Sheridan's green hairstreak (Callophrys sheridanii), Square-spotted blue (Euphilotes battoides), Western Green Hairstreak (Callophrys apama), Western Green Hairstreak (Callophrys affinis)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- reddish bronze
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from woody caudex after fire; found in fire-prone habitats.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives in open, sunny locations
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seed germinates best with cold stratification; germination can be erratic.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI