Eriogonum covilleanum
Coville's wild buckwheat
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Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eriogonum covilleanum (Coville's wild buckwheat) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by peduncles absent with involucres at branch tips.
Coville's wild buckwheat is a California native annual found in central coastal and western Transverse Ranges in shale or serpentine habitats at elevations of 200 to 1,400 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces pink flowers that may turn white, rose, or yellow in fruit, with delicate narrowly elliptic perianth lobes. Growing 10 to 40 centimeters tall with glabrous stems, it develops distinctive basal leaves that are approximately round, with woolly undersides and smooth upper surfaces. Its leaves are small, measuring 3 to 15 millimeters long, with a soft, dense texture that helps distinguish it in its rocky habitat. The plant produces compact involucres at the tips of slender branchlets, each 2 to 2.5 millimeters wide and glabrous.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 51 sympatric species; peduncles absent with involucres at branch tips is diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Shale or serpentine
Elevation: 200-1400 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo, Stanislaus, Fresno, San Benito, Monterey, Kern, Santa Clara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Merced, San Bernardino, Colusa, Lake, Contra Costa, Santa Barbara
Bloom period
Eriogonum covilleanum blooms Apr-Aug.
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 covilleanum native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum covilleanum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum covilleanum bloom?
Eriogonum covilleanum blooms Apr-Aug.
Where in California does Eriogonum covilleanum grow?
Eriogonum covilleanum occurs in San Luis Obispo, Stanislaus, Fresno, San Benito, Monterey, Kern, Santa Clara, Ventura and other counties, at elevations of 200-1400 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum covilleanum belong to?
Eriogonum covilleanum is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum covilleanum grow in?
Eriogonum covilleanum grows in Uncommon. Shale or serpentine.
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.