Eriogonum kennedyi var. kennedyi
Kennedy's wild buckwheat
Photo: parent species Eriogonum kennedyi · (c) Adam J. Searcy, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Eriogonum kennedyi var. kennedyi (Kennedy's wild buckwheat) is a native California subshrub in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by glabrous stems diagnostic among Kennedy's varieties.
Kennedy's wild buckwheat is a California native perennial found in northern Western Transverse Ranges near Mount Pinos and the San Bernardno Mountains in gravelly habitats at elevations of 1,700 to 2,700 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces white to cream-colored flowers in small, delicate clusters. Growing as a low-spreading plant 10 to 12 centimeters tall and up to 30 centimeters wide, it forms compact mats with slender, glabrous stems. Its small leaves are distinctively gray to brown-white and covered in dense woolly tomentum, often with margins slightly rolled under, measuring just 2 to 4 millimeters long. The compact flowering heads and tiny leaves make this buckwheat a subtle but charming component of high-elevation gravelly landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 58 sympatric species; glabrous stems diagnostic among Kennedy's varieties
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravel
Elevation: 1700-2700 m
California counties: Ventura, San Bernardino, Kern, Inyo, Los Angeles
Bloom period
Eriogonum kennedyi var. kennedyi blooms Apr-Jul.
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 kennedyi var. kennedyi native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum kennedyi var. kennedyi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum kennedyi var. kennedyi bloom?
Eriogonum kennedyi var. kennedyi blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Eriogonum kennedyi var. kennedyi grow?
Eriogonum kennedyi var. kennedyi occurs in Ventura, San Bernardino, Kern, Inyo, Los Angeles, at elevations of 1700-2700 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum kennedyi var. kennedyi belong to?
Eriogonum kennedyi var. kennedyi is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum kennedyi var. kennedyi grow in?
Eriogonum kennedyi var. kennedyi grows in Gravel.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.