Sulphur Buckwheat

Left image
Close up of yellow Sulphur Buckwheat flower.
Credit: Andrey Zharkikh

Right image
Cluster of yellow Sulphur Buckwheat flowers.

Sulphur Buckwheat - Eriogonum umbellatum

Sulphur Buckwheat is another species like Cushion Phlox whose compact low-growing body adapts it to the harsh, exposed conditions on the rims at Cedar Breaks. It can also be found in semi-moist meadows away from the rim. Its leathery leaves resist evaporation when conditions dry out in the summer. While the individual yellow flowers are tiny, they are grouped into clusters that rise several inches above the rest of the plant to better attract pollinators.

Sulphur Buckwheat is a member of the Genus Eriogonum which has more than 130 different species in Utah alone. Some of these species are delicate annuals while others are woody shrubs that reach several feet in height. Sulphur Buckwheat is found throughout much of the western U. S. while other species in the genus are rare and restricted to small areas or special soil types.