Flat-top buckwheat

Low spreading deciduous shrub up to 3 ft. tall with dense round clusters of whitish to pinkish flowers, blooming March to August. Occurs in moderately to well-drained sandy to clay loams and problem soils such as serpentine, decomposed granites and high pH soils, on dry slopes, washes and canyons in desert scrub and semidesert grasslands; up to 5,000 ft. elevation. Abundant after disturbance and excellent for use on critical erosion sites. Provides good forage to browsing animals and excellent cover for birds and small mammals. Important long-flowering wild nectar source for bees and other pollinator insects, especially Blue butterflies.