

Congdon's Buckwheat Eriogonum congdonii
Congdon's Buckwheat is a perennial shrub native to the lower 48 states. It blooms Jun – Aug. A host for pollen-specialist native bees.
More about this plant
Eriogonum congdonii is a species of wild buckwheat known by the common name Congdon's buckwheat. It is endemic to the Klamath Mountains of northern California, where it is an uncommon member of the serpentine soils flora in the local forests. It is a low, matting shrub growing up to about half a meter wide and tall. The woolly leaves are widely lance-shaped and are found along the stems, especially in clusters at the stem tips. The inflorescence is an erect, dense umbel of many tiny bright yellow flowers. Wikipedia →
Growing & care
USDA PLANTS · TRY- Hardiness
- ≥ zone 11 derived from its U.S. range
- Lifespan
- Perennial
Wildlife & pollinators
How pollinator value is scored →❧ Caterpillar hosts ~9 caterpillar species
Eriogonum supports ~9 caterpillar species.
Native butterfly & moth caterpillars are the base of the terrestrial food web — most songbirds rear their young almost entirely on them. As a host for native Lepidoptera this is a modest genus.
Recorded feeding on Eriogonum in North America, including:
+ 8 more species → ↑ show fewer
✦ Bees specialist-bee host
Specialist native bees depend on it.
Some native bees are pollen specialists (oligolectic) — they raise young only on pollen from particular plant genera. Eriogonum is a recorded specialist-bee host, so losing it can mean losing the bee that relies on it.
Sources for this entry (14) Open & cited
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