Eriogonum elatum var. villosum
Tall woolly wild buckwheat, Tall Woolly Wild Buckwheat
Photo: parent species Eriogonum elatum · (c) John Brew, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Eriogonum elatum var. villosum (Tall woolly wild buckwheat) is a native California subshrub in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by hairy stems and inflorescence distinguish from var. elatum.
Tall woolly wild buckwheat is a native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern California Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada, and Modoc Plateau in sandy or gravelly habitats at elevations of 500 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces white to cream-colored flowers in dense, clustered inflorescences. Growing with hairy stems 30 to 80 centimeters tall, it forms an erect and somewhat robust wildflower. Its leaves are densely woolly, with basal blades 3 to 10 centimeters long, creating a soft and textured appearance. The fruit develops as a small, hairy achene typical of wild buckwheat species.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 124 sympatric species; hairy stems and inflorescence distinguish from var. elatum
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Sand or gravel
Elevation: 500-2000 m
California counties: Nevada, Siskiyou, Plumas, Alpine, Lassen, Shasta, Trinity, Sierra
Outside California: southern Oregon, western Nevada
Bloom period
Eriogonum elatum var. villosum blooms Jun-Sep.
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 elatum var. villosum native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum elatum var. villosum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum elatum var. villosum bloom?
Eriogonum elatum var. villosum blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Eriogonum elatum var. villosum grow?
Eriogonum elatum var. villosum occurs in Nevada, Siskiyou, Plumas, Alpine, Lassen, Shasta, Trinity, Sierra, at elevations of 500-2000 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum elatum var. villosum belong to?
Eriogonum elatum var. villosum is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum elatum var. villosum grow in?
Eriogonum elatum var. villosum grows in Uncommon. Sand or gravel.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriogonum elegans — Elegant wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum elongatum var. elongatum — Long-stem wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum eremicola — Wildrose canyon buckwheat
- Eriogonum esmeraldense var. esmeraldense — Esmeralda wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum evanidum — Vanishing wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum exaltatum — Ladder wild buckwheat
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.