Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Eriogonum ovalifolium is a species of wild buckwheat known by the common name cushion buckwheat. It is native to western North America from California to Alberta, where it is a member of many plant communities in varied habitats. There are many varieties of this species but in general it is a tough perennial herb which forms mats in gravelly soil or amongst rocks and produces erect flower clusters up to 35 centimeters in height. The pale green to gray leaves at the base of the plant are rounded and woolly and have petioles. The clumps of flowers are yellow, light red or pink, purple, or white.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Size

1 ft Tall

Calscape icon
Color

Yellow

Special uses

Containers

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Low, Very Low

Ease of care

Moderate

Soil drainage

Fast

Propagation

For propagating by seed: No treatment. Germinate outdoors in cold weather.

Site type

Dry sand or gravel

Plant communities

Alpine Fell-Fields, Lodgepole Forest, Northern Juniper Woodland, Pinyon-Juniper Woodland, Red Fir Forest, Sagebrush Scrub, Subalpine Forest

Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

3 confirmed and 35 likely

Confirmed Likely

Square-spotted Blue

Euphilotes battoides

Bauer's Dotted-Blue

Euphilotes baueri

Glaucon Blue

Euphilotes glaucon

Sonoran Metalmark

Apodemia mejicanus