Eriogonum maculatum
Spotted wild buckwheat, Spotted Wild Buckwheat
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eriogonum maculatum (Spotted wild buckwheat) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by . Key features: distinctive spotted flowers, annual habit, glandular flower stalks.
Spotted wild buckwheat is a native annual herb found in southern Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi Range, Great Basin, and Desert regions in sandy to gravelly habitats at elevations of 100 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from April to November, this plant produces white to yellow or pink flowers with distinctive rose-purple spots, creating delicate clusters across its branches. Growing 10 to 20 centimeters tall with slender, thread-like stems covered in soft tomentose (woolly) hair, it has a spreading, open growth habit. Its leaves are primarily basal and stem-based, with soft, woolly blades 0.5 to 3 centimeters long and 0.3 to 1.5 centimeters wide, creating a soft, textured appearance. The small flowers, measuring 1 to 2.5 millimeters long, are nestled in tiny glandular-hairy involucres, giving this delicate annual a subtle, intricate beauty.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 171 sympatric species. Key features: distinctive spotted flowers, annual habit, glandular flower stalks
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Sand to gravel
Elevation: 100-2500 m
California counties: Kern, San Bernardino, Inyo, Riverside, Imperial, Lassen, Los Angeles, Mono, San Diego, Ventura, Siskiyou, San Luis Obispo, Tulare, Kings, Santa Barbara, Orange
Outside California: to eastern Washington, Utah, Arizona, northern Baja California
Bloom period
Eriogonum maculatum blooms Apr-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 maculatum native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum maculatum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum maculatum bloom?
Eriogonum maculatum blooms Apr-Nov.
Where in California does Eriogonum maculatum grow?
Eriogonum maculatum occurs in Kern, San Bernardino, Inyo, Riverside, Imperial, Lassen, Los Angeles, Mono and other counties, at elevations of 100-2500 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum maculatum belong to?
Eriogonum maculatum is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum maculatum grow in?
Eriogonum maculatum grows in Common. Sand to gravel.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriogonum marifolium — Marum leaved buckwheat
- Eriogonum marifolium var. cupulatum — Mccloud wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum marifolium var. marifolium — Marum-leaf wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum mensicola — Pinyon mesa buckwheat
- Eriogonum microtheca — Great basin buckwheat
- Eriogonum microtheca var. alpinum — Alpine slender 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.