Eriogonum baileyi var. baileyi
Bailey's wild buckwheat, Bailey's Wild Buckwheat
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eriogonum baileyi var. baileyi (Bailey's wild buckwheat) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by constricted petals and glabrous inflorescence branches vs. tomentose var. praebens.
Bailey's wild buckwheat is a California native annual herb found in the southern Sierra Nevada Foothills, Tehachapi Mountains, southern Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, Great Basin, and western Mojave Desert in sandy and gravelly habitats at elevations of 500 to 2,900 meters. Flowering from May to October, this plant produces white to cream-colored flowers in glabrous clusters. Growing with thin, spreading stems up to 20 centimeters tall, it forms delicate branching structures close to the ground. Its leaves are primarily basal, with small, narrow blades arranged in loose rosettes. This adaptable wildflower thrives in dry, open landscapes across multiple desert and mountain regions.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 164 species; distinguished by constricted petals and glabrous inflorescence branches vs. tomentose var. praebens
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Sand, gravel
Elevation: (100)500-2900 m
California counties: Kern, Mono, San Bernardino, Inyo, Los Angeles, Lassen, Tulare, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Riverside, Ventura, Plumas, Siskiyou, El Dorado, Monterey, Alpine, Nevada, San Benito, Sierra, Modoc, Shasta
Outside California: to Washington, Idaho, western Utah
Bloom period
Eriogonum baileyi var. baileyi blooms May-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 baileyi var. baileyi native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum baileyi var. baileyi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum baileyi var. baileyi bloom?
Eriogonum baileyi var. baileyi blooms May-Oct.
Where in California does Eriogonum baileyi var. baileyi grow?
Eriogonum baileyi var. baileyi occurs in Kern, Mono, San Bernardino, Inyo, Los Angeles, Lassen, Tulare, Santa Barbara and other counties, at elevations of (100)500-2900 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum baileyi var. baileyi belong to?
Eriogonum baileyi var. baileyi is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum baileyi var. baileyi grow in?
Eriogonum baileyi var. baileyi grows in Common. Sand, 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.