Eriogonum heermannii var. humilius
Heermann's great basin wild buckwheat, Heermann's Great Basin Wild Buckwheat
Photo: parent species Eriogonum heermannii · (c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Eriogonum heermannii var. humilius (Heermann's great basin wild buckwheat) is a native California shrub in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by white flowers diagnostic among Heermann's varieties.
Heermann's great basin wild buckwheat is a California native shrub found in central and eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, eastern Sierra Nevada, and northern Desert Mountains in gravelly habitats at elevations of 1,100 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from June to October, this plant produces delicate white flowers in rounded clusters 5 to 20 centimeters wide. Growing as a low, spreading shrub 3 to 7 decimeters tall with a broad 5 to 12 decimeter diameter, it forms a compact and dense ground-covering shape. Its small leaves are 0.8 to 1.5 centimeters long and 0.4 to 0.8 centimeters wide, varying from hairy to smooth. The plant's smooth, round branches and compact white flower clusters create an elegant, low-growing appearance in rocky, high-elevation landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 82 sympatric species; white flowers diagnostic among Heermann's varieties
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Gravel
Elevation: 1100-2500 m
California counties: Inyo, Mono, San Bernardino
Outside California: Nevada
Bloom period
Eriogonum heermannii var. humilius blooms Jun-Oct.
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 heermannii var. humilius native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum heermannii var. humilius is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum heermannii var. humilius bloom?
Eriogonum heermannii var. humilius blooms Jun-Oct.
Where in California does Eriogonum heermannii var. humilius grow?
Eriogonum heermannii var. humilius occurs in Inyo, Mono, San Bernardino, at elevations of 1100-2500 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum heermannii var. humilius belong to?
Eriogonum heermannii var. humilius is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum heermannii var. humilius grow in?
Eriogonum heermannii var. humilius grows in Common. Gravel.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriogonum heermannii var. occidentale — Western heermann's buckwheat
- Eriogonum heermannii var. sulcatum — Heermann's grooved wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum heracleoides var. heracleoides — Parsnip-flowered buckwheat
- Eriogonum hirtellum — Klamath mountain buckwheat
- Eriogonum hirtiflorum — Hairy-flower wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum hoffmannii — Hoffmann's 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.