Buckwheat
Scientific Name: Fagopyrum esculentum
Life Cycle: Summer annual
Growth Habit: Upright to semi-upright
Preferred Soil pH: 5.0 - 7.0
Min. Germination Temp.: 50 F
Semi-upright to upright broadleaf summer annual that grows 2-5 feet tall. Has single, multibranched stems; abundant white flowers; and fibrous, dense roots.
Additional Resources
Buckwheat: Managing Cover Crops Profitably (SARE Handbook Series Book 9) by Andy Clark (2007, 3rd ed.)
Sunflower
Scientific Name: Helianthus annuus
Life Cycle: Summer annual
Growth Habit: Upright
Preferred Soil pH: 6.0 - 7.5
Min. Germination Temp.: 50 F
This upright, broadleaf (non-legume), warm-season annual grows 2-10 feet tall. Has a taproot and rough-hairy stems. Leaves are mostly alternate, egg-shaped to triangular, and entire or toothed.
Additional Resources
Phacelia
Scientific Name: Phacelia tanacetifolia
Life Cycle: Cool-season annual
Growth Habit: Upright
Preferred Soil pH: 6.4 - 8.5
Min. Germination Temp.: 37F
Image from https://botanicgardens.uw.edu/about/blog/2016/09/27/october-2016-plant-profile-phacelia-tanacetifolia/
This upright, broadleaf (non-legume), cool-season annual grows 1-3 feet tall. The lacy foliage grows quickly and produces purple flowers.
Flax
Scientific Name: Linum usitatissimum
Life Cycle: Annual
Growth Habit: Upright
Min. Germination Temp.: 48F
This upright, broadleaf (non-legume), cool-season annual grows 1-4 feet tall. The slender stems emerge quickly with small lance-shaped leaves. Flax produces a small blue flowers.
