Bloomipedia
Redroot buckwheat (Eriogonum racemosum)
Photo: Zach Earl via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Redroot buckwheat

Eriogonum racemosum

Redroot buckwheat (Eriogonum racemosum) is a low shrub in the Polygonaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly July–September across the U.S.

Native to Utah

Redroot buckwheat is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Utah it's most often seen in bloom in July–October.

5states where USDA records it
628UT sightings*
2,127U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Utah

Quick look

  • It belongs to the Polygonaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a subshrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 5 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Utah. NatureServe
  • In Utah, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–October. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 628 research-grade sightings of it in Utah, ranking #99 among the 153 flowers on our Utah list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Utah, most flowering sightings come in July–October.

Flowering records by month in Utah (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (88 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Utah
No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Utah.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records redroot buckwheat in 5 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah.

Utah counties with USDA records: Beaver, Cache, Carbon, Davis, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Piute, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, Wayne.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 58 counties across 5 states; the most are in Utah (24), Colorado (12), New Mexico (12).

Other Eriogonum on Bloomipedia (9): California buckwheat, Sulfur buckwheat, Desert trumpet, Cushion buckwheat, Parsnipflower buckwheat, James' buckwheat, Alpine golden buckwheat, Annual buckwheat, Few-flower buckwheat.

More from the Polygonaceae family (21 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): American jumpseed, Low smartweed, Japanese knotweed, Mile-a-minute weed, Water smartweed, American bistort, Spotted lady's thumb, Devil's spineflower.

More Utah flowers

Desert trumpet (Eriogonum inflatum)

Desert trumpet

Eriogonum inflatum

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🌼 Blooms in UT: April–October
Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha)

Plains pricklypear

Opuntia polyacantha

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🌼 Blooms in UT: April–June
Showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)

Showy milkweed

Asclepias speciosa

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🌼 Blooms in UT: June–August

Sources