Eriogonum baileyi
Bailey buckwheat
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Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eriogonum baileyi (Bailey buckwheat) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family.
Bailey buckwheat is a California native annual herb found in dry, open areas at elevations of 100 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces delicate white to rose-colored flowers in compact clusters about 1.5 to 3 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall, it develops a distinctive branching form with sparse, tomentose foliage. Its basal leaves are nearly round, measuring 0.5 to 2 centimeters long and covered in dense, woolly hairs that give the plant a soft, gray-green appearance. The plant produces small, glandular fruits 1 to 1.5 millimeters long, typical of its delicate buckwheat characteristics.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated from all other species in this genus
Habitat and range
California counties: Los Angeles, Humboldt, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Kern, Mono, Shasta, Inyo, Riverside, Modoc, Tulare, Lassen, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Ventura, Alpine, El Dorado, Plumas
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 baileyi native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum baileyi is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Eriogonum baileyi grow?
Eriogonum baileyi occurs in Los Angeles, Humboldt, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Kern, Mono, Shasta, Inyo and other counties.
What plant family does Eriogonum baileyi belong to?
Eriogonum baileyi is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
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.