Eriogonum gossypinum
Cottony buckwheat
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Eriogonum gossypinum (Cottony buckwheat) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by cottony appearance and glandular-hairy flowers.
Cottony buckwheat is a native annual found in the southern Sierra Nevada foothills Greenhorn Mountains and southwestern San Joaquin Valley in clay habitats at elevations of 100 to 500 meters. Flowering throughout the year, this plant produces white to rose-colored flowers in delicate, spreading clusters 5 to 25 centimeters wide. Growing 5 to 20 centimeters tall with tomentose (woolly) stems that are densely hairy, it appears compact and low-growing. Its leaves are both basal and along the stem, with blades 3 to 40 millimeters long and 2 to 10 millimeters wide, covered in soft white hairs and occasionally with slightly rolled edges. The fruit is small, about 1.3 to 1.5 millimeters long and glabrous.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 41 sympatric species; key features are cottony appearance and glandular-hairy flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Clay
Elevation: 100-500 m
California counties: Kern, San Luis Obispo, Kings, Fresno, Ventura
Bloom period
Eriogonum gossypinum blooms All year.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
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 gossypinum native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum gossypinum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum gossypinum bloom?
Eriogonum gossypinum blooms All year.
Where in California does Eriogonum gossypinum grow?
Eriogonum gossypinum occurs in Kern, San Luis Obispo, Kings, Fresno, Ventura, at elevations of 100-500 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum gossypinum belong to?
Eriogonum gossypinum is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
Is Eriogonum gossypinum rare or endangered?
Eriogonum gossypinum carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3S4.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriogonum gracile — Slender buckwheat
- Eriogonum gracile var. gracile — Slender woolly wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum gracile var. incultum — Palomar mountain wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum gracilipes — White mountains wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum gracillimum — Rose-and-white wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum grande — Island buckwheat
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.