Eriogonum grande var. rubescens
Red-flowered buckwheat
Photo: parent species Eriogonum grande · (c) Diego Maldonado de la Torre, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Eriogonum grande var. rubescens (Red-flowered buckwheat) is a native California shrub in the Polygonaceae family.
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.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 0 sympatric species; geographically isolated to northern Channel Islands
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sand
Elevation: 10-200 m
California counties: Santa Barbara
Bloom period
Eriogonum grande var. rubescens blooms Apr-Sep.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.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 grande var. rubescens native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum grande var. rubescens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum grande var. rubescens bloom?
Eriogonum grande var. rubescens blooms Apr-Sep.
Where in California does Eriogonum grande var. rubescens grow?
Eriogonum grande var. rubescens occurs in Santa Barbara, at elevations of 10-200 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum grande var. rubescens belong to?
Eriogonum grande var. rubescens is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
Is Eriogonum grande var. rubescens rare or endangered?
Eriogonum grande var. rubescens carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriogonum grande var. timorum — San nicolas island buckwheat
- Eriogonum heermannii — Heerman buckwheat
- Eriogonum heermannii var. argense — Heermann's rough wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum heermannii var. floccosum — Clark mountain buckwheat
- Eriogonum heermannii var. heermannii — Heermann's wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum heermannii var. humilius — Heermann's great basin wild 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.