Eriogonum gracile var. gracile
Slender woolly wild buckwheat
Photo: parent species Eriogonum gracile · Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eriogonum gracile var. gracile (Slender woolly wild buckwheat) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by densely woolly inflorescence.
Slender woolly wild buckwheat is a California native annual herb found in the California Floristic Province in sandy habitats at elevations below 1,400 meters. Flowering throughout the year, this plant produces tiny flowers with delicate white to pale cream coloration arranged in dense, woolly inflorescences. Growing with slender, branching stems that spread across the ground, it forms low, intricate clusters typically 10 to 30 centimeters wide. Its leaves are small, narrow, and clustered near the base of the plant, with a soft, woolly texture that gives the species its distinctive appearance. The plant's compact, intricate growth form and ability to thrive in sandy environments make it a characteristic component of California's coastal and inland sand ecosystems.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 170 sympatric species; key feature is densely woolly inflorescence
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Sand
Elevation: < 1400 m
California counties: Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Merced, Stanislaus, Monterey, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Alameda, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, San Benito, Contra Costa, Ventura, Tulare, Orange, San Mateo, San Joaquin, Kern, Santa Cruz, Inyo, Plumas, El Dorado, Tehama, Solano, Sacramento
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Eriogonum gracile var. gracile 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 gracile var. gracile native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum gracile var. gracile is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum gracile var. gracile bloom?
Eriogonum gracile var. gracile blooms All year.
Where in California does Eriogonum gracile var. gracile grow?
Eriogonum gracile var. gracile occurs in Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Merced, Stanislaus, Monterey, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and other counties, at elevations of < 1400 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum gracile var. gracile belong to?
Eriogonum gracile var. gracile is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum gracile var. gracile grow in?
Eriogonum gracile var. gracile grows in Common. Sand.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Eriogonum grande var. grande — Island buckwheat
- Eriogonum grande var. rubescens — Red-flowered 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.