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Dogtongue buckwheat

Eriogonum tomentosum

Last reviewed: October 2026

Dogtongue buckwheat (Eriogonum tomentosum)
Photo: (c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger

Toxicity unknown

Dogtongue buckwheat (Eriogonum tomentosum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

6"–24" H × 12"–36" W

Bloom

Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Native to

AL, FL, GA, SC

Pollinators

bees, butterflies, wasps

Before you buy

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Southeastern PlainsSouthern Coastal Plain

Low perennial wild buckwheat forming a mat of woolly gray-green leaves, with tall wiry stems carrying rounded clusters of tiny white to pale pink flowers in fall. It thrives in deep, dry, sandy soil and tolerates drought well.

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In an HOA neighborhood

Dogtongue buckwheat is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 3 out of 5.

Works well in: back yard, sandy borders.

  • Needs very well-drained sandy soil and looks sparse in rich beds

Wildlife value

Late-season flowers supply nectar and pollen to native bees, small wasps and butterflies when few other plants are in bloom.

Common questions

How much sun does Dogtongue buckwheat need?
Dogtongue buckwheat grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Dogtongue buckwheat bloom?
Dogtongue buckwheat blooms in August, September, October, and November.
Where is Dogtongue buckwheat native?
Dogtongue buckwheat (Eriogonum tomentosum) is native to AL, FL, GA, SC, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
What pollinators does Dogtongue buckwheat attract?
Dogtongue buckwheat draws bees, butterflies, and wasps.
Is Dogtongue buckwheat HOA-friendly?
Dogtongue buckwheat is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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