Pollinator plant

Buckwheat

Fagopyrum esculentum

Linked agroforestry plant data
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Common names

33 names · 28 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (27)
Dutch
French
Afrikaans
Arabic
  • حنطة سوداء[4]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • pohanka obecná[4]
Danish
Finnish
  • viljatattari[4]
German
Hebrew
  • כוסמת[4]
Hungarian
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Lithuanian
  • Sėjamasis grikis[4]
Norwegian
Polish
  • Gryka zwyczajna[4]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Гречиха посевная[4]
Slovak
  • pohánka jedlá[4]
Spanish
Swedish
Thai
  • บักวีต[4]
Turkish
  • Kara Buğday[4]
Ukrainian
  • Гречка звичайна (Гречка посівна)[4]
Welsh
  • Gwenith yr hydd[4]
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Fagopyrum esculentum — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Buckwheat — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Fagopyrum esculentum.
[2] Fagopyrum esculentum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Buckwheat — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • Boekweit — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • Sarrasin — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • Common Buckwheat — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • Echter Buchweizen — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • Alforfón — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • Trigo sarraceno — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • Grano saraceno — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • Trigo-mourisco — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • Trigo-sarraceno — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
[3] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Fagopyrum esculentum ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Buckwheat (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 150045; taxon 3DS8L.
  • Echter Buchweizen (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 150046; taxon 3DS8L.
[4] Fagopyrum esculentum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Buckwheat — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • Boekweit — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • Sarrasin — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • Common Buckwheat — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • Echter Buchweizen — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • Alforfón — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • Trigo sarraceno — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • Grano saraceno — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • Trigo-mourisco — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • Trigo-sarraceno — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • ソバ — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • 蕎麦 — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • pohanka obecná — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • Sėjamasis grikis — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • 蕎麥 — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • Гречиха посевная — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • bokhvete — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • 荞麦 — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • viljatattari — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • Boghvede — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • Gryka zwyczajna — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • 메밀 — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • bovete — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • Boekwiet — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • bokwiet — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • حنطة سوداء — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • Гречка звичайна (Гречка посівна) — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • Pohánka — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • Kara Buğday — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • บักวีต — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • Gwenith yr hydd — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • pohánka jedlá — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
  • כוסמת — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 145601; Fagopyrum esculentum.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Fagopyrum esculentum is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Polygonaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Plant habit
Erect; Multi-stemmed

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Annual

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Wet

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Autumn; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, pollinators.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Native range
E. Tibet to China (Sichuan, Yunnan).

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

High suitability
Nectar value High
Pollen value High
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Herbaceous
Size
Small
Dimensions
1.50 m high × 0.30 m wide
Growth rate
Slow
Lifecycle
Annual

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
10-12
Moisture
Moist, Well-drained
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Leaves, Seed
Functions
Nitrogen fixer, Dye, Pollinator plant, Fragrant
Edibility
4 out of 5
Medicinal value
3 out of 5

Leaves can be eaten both raw and cooked, similar to spinach. While they look beautiful raw, their flavor and texture improve when cooked. These leaves are a good source of rutin, making them a very healthy addition to your diet. The seeds can also be eaten raw or cooked and have a nutty flavor with a somewhat grainy texture. You can soak the seeds overnight in warm water, let them sprout, and then add them to salads. They can also be ground into a powder and used in dishes such as pancakes, noodles, bread, and even as a thickening agent in soups. Additionally, they are rich in vitamin B6. With the grain, you can even brew an excellent beer.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Fagopyrum esculentum — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 237166; ID 3DS8L; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 237166; ID 3DS8L; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Fagopyrum esculentum — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Plant habitLife cycleGrowth rateLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Fagopyrum esculentum — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 1391636; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1382644, 1382649

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.