Eriogonum microtheca var. simpsonii
Simpson's wild buckwheat
Photo: parent species Eriogonum microtheca · (c) Jared Shorma, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Eriogonum microtheca var. simpsonii (Simpson's wild buckwheat) is a native California shrub in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by narrow rolled leaves and compact woolly inflorescence.
Simpson's wild buckwheat is a native shrub found in southern Sierra Nevada and Mojave Desert bioregions on gravel and rocky sites at elevations of 1,400 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from June to October, this plant produces white to pink or rose-colored flowers in small clusters approximately 2 to 4 centimeters long. Growing as a subshrub 1 to 1.5 meters tall with a spread of 4 to 16 centimeters, it features stems generally covered in soft, woolly tomentum. Its small leaves are narrow, 0.5 to 1.8 centimeters long, with margins rolled under and a soft, hairy surface. The compact, densely clustered inflorescence and delicate color variations make this wild buckwheat a distinctive component of its arid mountain and desert habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 82 sympatric species; key features are narrow rolled leaves and compact woolly inflorescence
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Gravel to rocks
Elevation: 1400-2300 m
Outside California: to Colorado, northwestern New Mexico, disjunct in northeastern Idaho and southwestern Montana
Bloom period
Eriogonum microtheca var. simpsonii blooms Jun-Oct.
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 microtheca var. simpsonii native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum microtheca var. simpsonii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum microtheca var. simpsonii bloom?
Eriogonum microtheca var. simpsonii blooms Jun-Oct.
What plant family does Eriogonum microtheca var. simpsonii belong to?
Eriogonum microtheca var. simpsonii is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum microtheca var. simpsonii grow in?
Eriogonum microtheca var. simpsonii grows in Common. Gravel to rocks.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.