Eriogonum nidularium
Birdnest wild buckwheat
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eriogonum nidularium (Birdnest wild buckwheat) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by nest-like growth form and distinctive petal shapes.
Birdnest wild buckwheat is a California native annual found in the Great Basin and Desert bioregions in sandy or gravelly habitats at elevations of 500 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from March to October, this plant produces pale yellow to red flowers in compact clusters with widely fan-shaped outer perianth lobes. Growing with tiny stems generally 5 to 15 centimeters tall and characteristically hairy, it forms delicate, low-growing clusters. Its basal leaves are approximately round, about 1 to 2 centimeters long, and covered in a dense woolly (tomentose) surface. The small flowers and compact growth give this wild buckwheat a distinctive, clustered appearance characteristic of its birdnest-like form.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 105 sympatric species; key features are nest-like growth form and distinctive petal shapes
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Sand or gravel
Elevation: (300)500-2300 m
California counties: Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Kern, Inyo, Mono, Riverside, Lassen, Santa Barbara
Outside California: to southeastern Oregon, southwestern Idaho, southwestern Utah, northwestern Arizona
Bloom period
Eriogonum nidularium blooms Mar-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 nidularium native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum nidularium is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum nidularium bloom?
Eriogonum nidularium blooms Mar-Oct.
Where in California does Eriogonum nidularium grow?
Eriogonum nidularium occurs in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Kern, Inyo, Mono, Riverside, Lassen, Santa Barbara, at elevations of (300)500-2300 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum nidularium belong to?
Eriogonum nidularium is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum nidularium grow in?
Eriogonum nidularium grows in Common. Sand or gravel.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.