The Buckwheat Tree is a perennial, flowering, evergreen shrub in leaf all year and producing fragrant flowers briefly in the Spring. It is native to the Southeastern United States and often found in the damp, sandy, peat soils of swamps and bays that are free from mud, lime, sulphur and salt. At maturity, the plant typically reaches a height of 18 feet (although some specimens grow to 45 feet) with a crooked, multi-stemmed form. This plant colonizes and can often form thickets if not trimmed. The plant is noted for its attractive, dark, shiny, thick leaves and white to pinkish, fragrant flower clusters. The Buckwheat Tree does best in full sun to partial shade in moist to wet, well drained, sandy soil. The soil should be acidic and can be amended with additional leafmould. The Buckwheat Tree is not particularly cold hardy, but can be grown where frosts are light and short. It may require protection when temperatures dip. The Buckwheat Tree can be hard to find in commercial nurseries; however, 'Chipola Pink', a cultivar with pink flowers is sometimes available. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No significant diseases or insect pest problems. The plant does not tolerate competition from other trees or shrubs.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Wet
Mature size
Height: 12 ft. 0 in. - 18 ft. 0 in. | Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Multi-stemmed; Multi-trunked
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Leathery
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
This plant has opposite, simple, 1 to 2 inch lustrous, dark green leaves, shiny above and lighter green or whitish below.
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
This plant has 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 inch fragrant, white or rose flowers that bloom in spring. Conspicuous anthers are orange-colored. Flowers are arranged in upright racemes at the ends of the branches. Each flower has five white petals. The flowers are an important nectar source for bees.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Cream/Tan
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit detail
Fruits are five winged drupes, yellowish and buckwheat shaped; hence the common name.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Southeastern regions of the United States; Louisiana to Florida.
Distribution
Southeastern United States, north to South Carolina.
Wildlife value
Flowers attract bees and is a honey plant for bees.
Attracts
Bees; Pollinators
Play value
Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Drupe
Uses (ethnobotany)
The wood of this plant is hard, but brittle. It burns with a bright flame and is often used as firewood.