Sulfur buckwheat
Eriogonum umbellatum
Sulfur buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum) is a Colorado-native groundcover suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 6 to 12 in tall and 18 to 24 in wide, needs low water, and prefers full sun. Native pollinator powerhouse. Yellow umbel-like flowers age to rust-red, beautiful late-season.
Colorado nativeOn the CSU listlow water6 to 12 in tall and 18 to 24 in wideXeric / water-wiseLower ignitability (Plant Select list): 5-30 ft, not right against the houseDeer-resistant
Photos
- Photo 1: (c) Reid Hardin, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 2: no rights reserved
- Photo 3: (c) Reid Hardin, some rights reserved (CC BY)
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4 to 8
- Water needs
- low water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Soil
- sandy, well drained only
- Soil pH
- 6.5 to 8.5
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Site uses
- Slopes & erosion control
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 6 to 12 in tall and 18 to 24 in wide
- Growth habit
- Clumping
- Planting spacing
- ~17 to 24 in apart
What it looks like, and when
- Bloom time
- early summer, mid summer
- Bloom color
- yellow
- Bloom length
- Long (several weeks)
- Foliage
- Semi-evergreen
- Winter cover
- Partial winter cover
What it will do to your yard
- Foot traffic
- No foot traffic
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- high
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
- Colorado native
- Yes
- Native ecoregion
- foothills, montane
Also worth knowing
- Fire rating
- Lower ignitability (Plant Select list): 5-30 ft, not right against the house
Using Sulfur buckwheat as a groundcover
Sulfur buckwheat grows in tidy clumps. It fills in loosely, so mulch between plants while it establishes. On a slope it helps knit the soil together and control erosion.
Planting & establishment
Drainage is critical. Drought-tolerant native, minimal water after first summer.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Sulfur buckwheat good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Sulfur buckwheat is a well-suited groundcover for Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Sulfur buckwheat get?
- It matures to about 6 to 12 in tall and 18 to 24 in wide.
- How far apart do I plant Sulfur buckwheat?
- Space Sulfur buckwheat about 17 in apart for a faster, fuller cover, or up to 24 in apart for a looser planting.
- Is Sulfur buckwheat hardy on the Front Range?
- Sulfur buckwheat is hardy in USDA 4 to 8. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b to 6a, so it is well within range.
- How much water does Sulfur buckwheat need?
- It needs low water once established.
- Is Sulfur buckwheat native to Colorado?
- Yes. It is a Colorado native.
- Is Sulfur buckwheat deer-resistant?
- Sulfur buckwheat is generally considered deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof when browse pressure is high.
- Is Sulfur buckwheat a good firewise plant near the house?
- Sulfur buckwheat is on Plant Select's fire-resistant plant list, so a reasonable choice 5 to 30 feet from the house rather than right against it. This is general guidance based on Plant Select's fire-resistant plant list, not a guarantee that any plant won't burn, a well-irrigated, well-maintained plant is the goal. Check defensible-space guidance with your local fire district before planting in the wildland-urban interface.
- Can you walk on Sulfur buckwheat?
- Sulfur buckwheat isn't meant for foot traffic, site it where you won't need to walk across it.
- Will Sulfur buckwheat spread or stay put?
- Sulfur buckwheat is clumping. Give it room to fill in and edit the edges to keep it where you want it.
- Does Sulfur buckwheat stay green in winter?
- Sulfur buckwheat keeps partial cover through Front Range winters.
- Is Sulfur buckwheat good for a slope?
- Yes. Sulfur buckwheat helps hold soil on Front Range slopes and control erosion once its roots knit in.
- How long does Sulfur buckwheat bloom?
- Sulfur buckwheat blooms for several weeks, a long-season performer on the Front Range. Bloom timing shifts a week or two with elevation and spring weather.
