Eriogonum kennedyi var. pinicola
Kern buckwheat
Photo: parent species Eriogonum kennedyi · (c) Adam J. Searcy, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Eriogonum kennedyi var. pinicola (Kern buckwheat) is a native California subshrub in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by unique to southeastern Kern County.
Kern buckwheat is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in the southern Sierra Nevada Foothills, specifically south of Cache Peak in southeastern Kern County, growing in gravelly habitats at elevations of 1,700 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces small white to reddish-white flowers in compact clusters. Growing with low, spreading stems 5 to 13 centimeters tall and reaching 1 to 3 meters in diameter, it forms a dense, mat-like groundcover. Its leaves are small and distinctive, with gray or red-white woolly surfaces, measuring 3 to 5 millimeters long and 1 to 4 millimeters wide with flat margins. The fruit is approximately 2.5 to 3 millimeters long, contributing to its delicate, low-growing form.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; unique to southeastern Kern County
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravel
Elevation: 1700-1800 m
Bloom period
Eriogonum kennedyi var. pinicola blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1
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. pinicola native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum kennedyi var. pinicola is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum kennedyi var. pinicola bloom?
Eriogonum kennedyi var. pinicola blooms May-Jun.
What plant family does Eriogonum kennedyi var. pinicola belong to?
Eriogonum kennedyi var. pinicola is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
Is Eriogonum kennedyi var. pinicola rare or endangered?
Eriogonum kennedyi var. pinicola carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
What habitat does Eriogonum kennedyi var. pinicola grow in?
Eriogonum kennedyi var. pinicola grows in Gravel.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.