Virginia Tech Dendrology

flat-top buckwheat Polygonaceae Eriogonum fasciculatum Benth. symbol: ERFA2
Leaf: Alternate, but densely clustered at nodes, evergreen, narrow lanceolate (nearly needles like), 1/2 inch long, strongly rolled edges, dark green above, paler finely fuzzy white beneath.
Flower: Dense, terminal, rounded clusters of small white (pinkish) flowers on a long stem, each cluster several inches across, appearing throughout growing season.
Fruit: Brown achene, not showy.
Twig: Slender reddish brown, finely peeling, numerous short shoots packed with leaves.
Bark: Light gray, splitting and becoming finely shreddy.
Form: Small, open, multi-stemmed shrub up to 3 feet tall.
Looks like: coastal buckwheat

Additional Range Information: Eriogonum fasciculatum is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information