Eriogonum exaltatum
Ladder wild buckwheat
(c) william_hoyer, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Eriogonum exaltatum (Ladder wild buckwheat) is a native California annual in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by whip-like branches and large size.
Ladder wild buckwheat is a California native annual found in the southeastern Inyo County desert mountains in sandy habitats at elevations of 500 to 1,400 meters. Flowering from May to October, this plant produces white to pale pink flowers in delicate, whip-like branching clusters up to 50 centimeters wide. Growing 1 to 2 meters tall with slender, erect stems, it spreads with an open, expansive growth habit. Its basal leaves are nearly round, measuring 2 to 5 centimeters long, with a soft, woolly white underside and sparsely hairy upper surface. The fruit is small, approximately 2 to 2.5 millimeters long and smooth.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 57 sympatric species; key features are whip-like branches and large size
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sand
Elevation: 500-1400 m
Outside California: northwestern Arizona, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah
Bloom period
Eriogonum exaltatum 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 exaltatum native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum exaltatum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum exaltatum bloom?
Eriogonum exaltatum blooms May-Oct.
What plant family does Eriogonum exaltatum belong to?
Eriogonum exaltatum is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum exaltatum grow in?
Eriogonum exaltatum grows in Sand.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriogonum fasciculatum — California buckwheat
- Eriogonum fasciculatum var. fasciculatum — Coastal california buckwheat
- Eriogonum fasciculatum var. flavoviride — Sonoran desert california buckwheat
- Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum — Leafy california buckwheat
- Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium — Mojave desert california buckwheat
- Eriogonum giganteum — St. catherine's-lace
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-08
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.