Eriogonum arborescens
Santa cruz island wild buckwheat, Santa Cruz Island Wild Buckwheat
(c) Brian Finzel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Eriogonum arborescens (Santa cruz island wild buckwheat) is a native California shrub in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by large shrub form (6-15 dm tall), narrow leaves (0.1-0.4 cm wide), Channel Islands origin.
Santa cruz island wild buckwheat is a California native shrub found in the northern Channel Islands, widely cultivated along the central and southwestern coastal regions at elevations of 10 to 600 meters in gravelly habitats. Flowering from April to October, this plant produces white to pale pink flowers in dense clusters 5 to 15 centimeters wide. Growing as a rounded shrub 6 to 15 meters tall with multiple branching stems, it develops a compact form with stout branches. Its leaves are small and gray-green, measuring 2 to 4 centimeters long and less than 0.4 centimeters wide, with a soft tomentose undersurface giving the plant a distinctive silvery appearance. The fruit is small, approximately 2.5 to 3.5 millimeters long and glabrous.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 67 species; distinguished by large shrub form (6-15 dm tall), narrow leaves (0.1-0.4 cm wide), Channel Islands origin
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravel
Elevation: 10-600 m
California counties: Ventura, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Monterey, Alameda
Bloom period
Eriogonum arborescens blooms Apr-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Adenostoma: Eriogonum has flowers in cup-like involucres; Adenostoma has tiny white rose-family flowers in spikes.; vs Salvia: Eriogonum has six similar perianth parts; Salvia has two-lipped tubular flowers.; vs Fagopyrum: Eriogonum has flowers in involucred clusters; Fagopyrum has loose branching sprays without involucres.; vs Artemisia: Eriogonum has cup-surrounded flower clusters; Artemisia has tiny inconspicuous heads in drooping sprays.; vs Chorizanthe: Eriogonum has multiple flowers per involucre; Chorizanthe has one flower per involucre with spiny teeth.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eriogonum arborescens native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum arborescens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum arborescens bloom?
Eriogonum arborescens blooms Apr-Oct.
Where in California does Eriogonum arborescens grow?
Eriogonum arborescens occurs in Ventura, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Monterey and other counties, at elevations of 10-600 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum arborescens belong to?
Eriogonum arborescens is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum arborescens grow in?
Eriogonum arborescens grows in Gravel.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.