Buckwheat Fagopyrum esculentum

• Attributes:

  Genus:

  Fagopyrum

  Species:

  esculentum

  Family:

  Polygonaceae

  Life Cycle:

  Annual

  Country Or Region Of Origin:

  Eastern Tibet to China

  Wildlife Value:

  A minor source of food for large and small mammals and songbirds. A nectar source for honeybees and other beneficial insects.

  Edibility:

  Cooked seeds can be eaten as a cereal grain.

• Whole Plant Traits:

  Plant Type:

  Annual

  Edible

  Wildflower

  Habit/Form:

  Erect

  Growth Rate:

  Rapid

• Cultural Conditions:

  Light:

  Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

• Fruit:

  Fruit Color:

  Brown/Copper

  Fruit Value To Gardener:

  Edible

  Display/Harvest Time:

  Fall

  Fruit Type:

  Nut

  Fruit Length:

  < 1 inch

  Fruit Width:

  < 1 inch

  Fruit Description:

  3-sided brown nutlet look like tiny pyramids

• Flowers:

  Flower Color:

  Pink

  White

  Flower Value To Gardener:

  Fragrant

  Good Cut

  Flower Bloom Time:

  Fall

  Summer

  Flower Petals:

  4-5 petals/rays

  Flower Size:

  < 1 inch

  Flower Description:

  Small white with pink anthers fragrant in terminal or axillary clusters.

• Leaves:

  Leaf Color:

  Green

  Leaf Type:

  Simple

  Leaf Arrangement:

  Alternate

  Hairs Present:

  No

  Leaf Description:

  Arrowhead-shaped alternate leaves and swollen sheathes.

• Stem:

  Stem Color:

  Red/Burgundy

  Stem Is Aromatic:

  No

  Stem Description:

  Hollow stems

• Landscape:

  Landscape Theme:

  Pollinator Garden

  Attracts:

  Bees

  Pollinators

  Songbirds

  Problems:

  Contact Dermatitis

  Poisonous to Humans

  Problem for Cats

  Problem for Dogs

  Problem for Horses

• Poisonous to Humans:

  Poison Severity:

  Low

  Poison Symptoms:

  Skin rash following ingestion and exposure to sunlight, in susceptible individuals.

  Poison Toxic Principle:

  Fagopyrin

  Causes Contact Dermatitis:

  Yes

  Poison Part:

  Fruits