Eriogonum heermannii var. occidentale
Western heermann's buckwheat, Western Heermann's Buckwheat
Photo: parent species Eriogonum heermannii · (c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Eriogonum heermannii var. occidentale (Western heermann's buckwheat) is a native California shrub in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by geographic isolation in coastal ranges diagnostic.
Western heermann's buckwheat is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native shrub found in central San Benito and southern Monterey counties in gravel bars and steep clay slopes, often on serpentine terrain at elevations of 400 to 1,000 meters. Flowering from July to October, this plant produces white to pink flowers in compact clusters 10 to 35 centimeters wide. Growing as a rounded shrub 1 to 2 meters tall with a similar diameter, it features densely clustered branches with smooth, glabrous stems. Its leaves are small and tomentose, measuring 1.5 to 3 centimeters long and 0.5 to 0.8 centimeters wide, occasionally becoming less hairy with age. The plant's distinctive white to pink flowers, each 3 to 4 millimeters long, are nestled in small involucres 2.5 to 3 millimeters wide.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 37 sympatric species; geographic isolation in coastal ranges diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravel bars, steep, clay slopes, often serpentine
Elevation: (100)400-1000 m
California counties: San Benito, Monterey, Fresno
Bloom period
Eriogonum heermannii var. occidentale blooms Jul-Oct.
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 heermannii var. occidentale native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum heermannii var. occidentale is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum heermannii var. occidentale bloom?
Eriogonum heermannii var. occidentale blooms Jul-Oct.
Where in California does Eriogonum heermannii var. occidentale grow?
Eriogonum heermannii var. occidentale occurs in San Benito, Monterey, Fresno, at elevations of (100)400-1000 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum heermannii var. occidentale belong to?
Eriogonum heermannii var. occidentale is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
Is Eriogonum heermannii var. occidentale rare or endangered?
Eriogonum heermannii var. occidentale carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Eriogonum hoffmannii var. hoffmannii — Hoffmann's 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.