Sulphur-Flower Buckwheat vs Nodding Onion - TreeTime.ca

Sulphur-Flower Buckwheat vs Nodding Onion

Eriogonum umbellatum

Allium cernuum

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Sulphur-Flower Buckwheat
Nodding Onion

Sulphur-Flower Buckwheat is a native perennial wildflower known for its dense clusters of cream to yellow flowers. The long-lasting blooms persist from late spring into summer, providing an extended nectar source for a variety of pollinators. The flower buds are often red-tinted before opening. As the blooms age, they shift to orange or red, adding seasonal interest and making them well-suited to dried flower arrangements. Its seeds are also eaten by birds, adding to its ecological value.

Depending on climate and conditions, Sulphur-Flower Buckwheat may be evergreen to semi-evergreen, or its foliage may turn red during fall. Its deep roots and spreading growth stabilize rocky or sandy soils, making it useful for erosion control. Exceptionally hardy once established, it requires little care and thrives in challenging environments, making it an excellent choice for pollinator gardens, naturalization, and ecological restoration projects.

Nodding Onion is a native perennial wildflower known for its nodding clusters of flowers that range in color from white to pink to purple. The lightly scented blooms provide pollen and nectar for pollinators, especially bees, which can collect while hanging upside down, a capability most other insects lack.

The narrow, grass-like leaves of the Nodding Onion can be used as a seasoning in cooked dishes, though bulbs and raw leaves should not be eaten in large quantities. All parts of the plant have an onion-like aroma when bruised, which helps deter deer and rabbits. They can self-seed readily, so removing spent blooms helps manage their spread. Tolerant of a range of soils, including alkaline, it is well-suited for a variety of plantings, including pollinator gardens and naturalization projects.

Sulphur-Flower Buckwheat Quick Facts

Nodding Onion Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 3a
Height: 0.2 m (0.5 ft)
Height: 0.3 m (1.0 ft)
Spread: 0.5 m (1.5 ft)
Spread: 0.2 m (0.5 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: short
Growth form: upright to spreading, clump-forming
Growth form: upright to spreading, clump-forming
Spreading: seeds - low
Spreading: seeds - high
Maintenance: medium


Toxicity: raw leaves and bulbs can be midly toxic
Foliage: leathery
Foliage: smells of onion when crushed, edible
Fall colour: reddish bronze
Flowers: colour varies, typically white to yellow
Flowers: white, pink, or purple nodding clusters
Bloom time: mid spring to mid summer
Bloom time: late spring to summer
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC
Native to: AB, BC, SK, ON
Other Names: sulphur buckwheat, sulphur flower, wild buckwheat
Other Names: ladys leek, nodding wild onion