Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium
Mojave desert california buckwheat, Mojave Desert California Buckwheat
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium (Mojave desert california buckwheat) is a native California shrub in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by broader leaves, hairy flowers, inland distribution.
Mojave desert california buckwheat is a California native shrub found in diverse bioregions including the San Joaquin Valley, Central Coast, southern Sierra Nevada, Transverse Ranges, eastern Peninsular Ranges, and Mojave Desert at elevations of 300 to 2,500 meters. Flowering throughout the year, this plant produces white to cream-colored flowers in small, dense clusters. Growing as a spreading to rounded subshrub 2 to 5 feet tall and up to 20 feet in diameter, it features gray-green branches covered in soft, woolly hairs. Its small leaves are narrow, measuring 0.6 to 1.8 centimeters long and 0.2 to 0.6 centimeters wide, with a soft, hairy texture. This adaptable shrub thrives in sandy, gravelly, or rocky habitats, making it well-suited to arid desert and coastal environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 172 sympatric species; key features are broader leaves, hairy flowers, inland distribution
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sand, gravel or rocks
Elevation: (60)300-2500 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Kern, Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside, San Diego, Inyo, San Luis Obispo, Imperial, Fresno, Orange, Stanislaus, Tulare, Santa Barbara, San Benito, Kings, San Joaquin, Merced, Mono, Alameda, Marin, Monterey, Lassen
Outside California: to southwestern Utah, northwestern Arizona, northwestern Mexico
Bloom period
Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium blooms All year.
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 fasciculatum var. polifolium native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium bloom?
Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium blooms All year.
Where in California does Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium grow?
Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium occurs in San Bernardino, Kern, Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside, San Diego, Inyo, San Luis Obispo and other counties, at elevations of (60)300-2500 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium belong to?
Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium grow in?
Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium grows in Sand, gravel or rocks.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriogonum giganteum — St. catherine's-lace
- Eriogonum giganteum var. compactum — Santa barbara island buckwheat
- Eriogonum giganteum var. formosum — San clemente island buckwheat
- Eriogonum giganteum var. giganteum — Santa catalina island buckwheat
- Eriogonum gilmanii — Gilman's buckwheat
- Eriogonum glandulosum — Glandular 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.