Sulfur Buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum) is in the knotweed family family (Polygonaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,693 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Nationally it blooms mainly from June to August, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Sulfur Buckwheat: observations by month (U.S.)
About Sulfur Buckwheat
Eriogonum umbellatum is a species of wild buckwheat known by the common name sulphurflower buckwheat, or simply sulphur flower. It is native to western North America from California to Colorado to central Canada, where it is abundant and found in many habitats. This is an extremely variable plant and hard to identify because individuals can look very different from one another. Also, there are a great many varieties. It may be a perennial herb forming a...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Sulfur Buckwheat by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 740 | June | Jun–Jul |
| California | 342 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Oregon | 232 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Utah | 102 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Washington | 97 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Nevada | 70 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Wyoming | 53 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Idaho | 26 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Montana | 20 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Arizona | 10 | July | Jul–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (knotweed family)
California Buckwheat
Low Smartweed
Desert Trumpet
American jumpseed
Naked Buckwheat
Japanese knotweed
American bistort
Arrow-Leaved Tearthumb
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Sulfur Buckwheat?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from June to August.
Where is Sulfur Buckwheat most often seen?
The most observations come from Colorado, California, Oregon.