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Buckwheat

Fagopyrum esculentum

Found in fields, disturbed areas, railroad rights-of-way, escaped from cultivation. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), South Central edition What its natural habitat tells you

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Not native

Not native to Alabama. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 82%

Height
About 2 feet
Light
Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture
Usually moist
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At a glance

Life cycle
Annual
Bloom
June to November
Fruiting season
Summer to fall

Not yet recorded · Spread · Leaves

Recorded in 3 Alabama counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

6CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AL

Genus host records with ranges including AL · Fagopyrum

  • Acronicta oblinitaSmeared Dagger
  • Calothysanis amaturariaCross-Lined Wave
  • Elasmopalpus lignosellaLesser Cornstalk Borer
  • Hyles lineataWhite-Lined Sphinx
  • Papaipema nebrisStalk Borer
  • Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
—Specialist beesPollen specialists
3BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Fagopyrum

  • Corvus brachyrhynchosAmerican Crow
  • Eremophila alpestrisHorned Lark
  • Zenaida macrouraMourning Dove
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Polygonaceae
Hardiness
Zones 6a–12b
Soil pH
Neutral to alkaline
Flower color
Pink or white
Growth rate
Rapid
Foliage color
Green
Fruit begins
Summer
Fruit ends
Fall

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Common Buckwheat

Conservation status

Alabama rankSNA
Global rankGNR
AL statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Sources