Eriogonum grande var. rubescens

Red-flowered buckwheat

Family: Polygonaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Red-flowered buckwheat is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found on San Miguel, Santa Cruz, and Santa Rosa islands in sandy coastal habitats at elevations of 10 to 200 meters. Flowering from April to September, this plant produces pink to red or rose-colored flowers in clusters 5 to 15 centimeters long. Growing with sturdy stems 2 to 5 decimeters tall that are occasionally inflated, it forms a compact subshrub with distinctive branching. Its leaves are tomentose on the underside, with blades 2 to 5 centimeters long and 1 to 3 centimeters wide, appearing slightly glabrous on the upper surface. The flowers are small, measuring 2.5 to 3 millimeters long, and create delicate pink to red inflorescences that contrast beautifully with the plant's dense foliage.

Habitat: Sand

Bloom period: Apr-Sep

Elevation: 10-200 m

Bioregions: n ChI (San Miguel, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa islands) widely cult, occasionally established CW.

California counties: Santa Barbara

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.