Eriogonum luteolum var. luteolum
Golden-carpet wild buckwheat, Golden-Carpet Wild Buckwheat
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eriogonum luteolum var. luteolum (Golden-carpet wild buckwheat) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by . Key features: annual, serpentine, large spreading inflorescence.
Golden-carpet wild buckwheat is a California native annual found in northwestern California, the California Ranges, and San Francisco Bay Area bioregions, commonly occurring on serpentine landscapes at elevations of 50 to 1,600 meters. Flowering from July to November, this plant produces white to rose or yellow flowers tiny and delicate. Growing with erect stems 20 to 50 centimeters tall that are occasionally hairy, it forms a low-spreading carpet-like habit. Its leaves are distinctive, with roughly circular basal and stem blades creating a soft, rounded appearance. When mature, the plant produces tiny fruits approximately 2 millimeters long, contributing to its delicate golden-carpet character.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 77 sympatric species. Key features: annual, serpentine, large spreading inflorescence
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Serpentine
Elevation: 50-1600 m
California counties: Mendocino, Lake, Mariposa, Napa, San Mateo, Del Norte, Siskiyou, Solano, Colusa, Nevada, Butte, Sonoma, El Dorado, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Shasta, Trinity, Tehama, Plumas, Sierra, Glenn, Marin, Santa Clara, Modoc, Sacramento
Bloom period
Eriogonum luteolum var. luteolum blooms Jul-Nov.
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 luteolum var. luteolum native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum luteolum var. luteolum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum luteolum var. luteolum bloom?
Eriogonum luteolum var. luteolum blooms Jul-Nov.
Where in California does Eriogonum luteolum var. luteolum grow?
Eriogonum luteolum var. luteolum occurs in Mendocino, Lake, Mariposa, Napa, San Mateo, Del Norte, Siskiyou, Solano and other counties, at elevations of 50-1600 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum luteolum var. luteolum belong to?
Eriogonum luteolum var. luteolum is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum luteolum var. luteolum grow in?
Eriogonum luteolum var. luteolum grows in Common. Serpentine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriogonum luteolum var. pedunculatum — Mokelumne hill wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum luteolum var. saltuarium — Jack's wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum maculatum — Spotted wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum marifolium — Marum leaved buckwheat
- Eriogonum marifolium var. cupulatum — Mccloud wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum marifolium var. marifolium — Marum-leaf 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.