Eriogonum lobbii
Lobb's wild buckwheat
(c) Jim Dreier, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jim Dreier · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Eriogonum lobbii (Lobb's wild buckwheat) is a native California subshrub in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by . Key features: reflexed involucre teeth, rounded leaves, mountain habitat.
Lobb's wild buckwheat is a California native perennial found in the northwestern California, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and Great Basin bioregions in sandy or gravelly habitats at elevations of 1,600 to 3,800 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces white to rose-colored flowers in compact clusters with 6 to 10 reflexed teeth. Growing as a low-spreading mat 10 to 25 centimeters in diameter, with generally decumbent stems covered in soft tomentose hair. Its basal leaves are approximately round, 1 to 4 centimeters long, with a dense woolly undersurface that provides texture and protection. When mature, the plant produces smooth, glabrous fruits 4.5 to 6 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 151 sympatric species. Key features: reflexed involucre teeth, rounded leaves, mountain habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Sand or gravel
Elevation: (1000)1600-3800 m
California counties: Riverside, Mono, Alpine, Inyo, Madera, Nevada, Tulare, Tuolumne, Glenn, Fresno, Butte, El Dorado, Stanislaus, Humboldt, Mariposa, Mendocino, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity, Colusa, Del Norte, San Benito, Amador
Outside California: southwestern Oregon, western Nevada
Bloom period
Eriogonum lobbii blooms Jun-Aug.
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 lobbii native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum lobbii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum lobbii bloom?
Eriogonum lobbii blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Eriogonum lobbii grow?
Eriogonum lobbii occurs in Riverside, Mono, Alpine, Inyo, Madera, Nevada, Tulare, Tuolumne and other counties, at elevations of (1000)1600-3800 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum lobbii belong to?
Eriogonum lobbii is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum lobbii grow in?
Eriogonum lobbii grows in Common. Sand or gravel.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriogonum luteolum — Golden buckwheat
- Eriogonum luteolum var. caninum — Tiburon buckwheat
- Eriogonum luteolum var. luteolum — Golden-carpet wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum luteolum var. pedunculatum — Mokelumne hill wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum luteolum var. saltuarium — Jack's wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum maculatum — Spotted wild 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.