Eriogonum nudum var. oblongifolium
Harford's wild buckwheat, Harford's Wild Buckwheat
Photo: parent species Eriogonum nudum · no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Eriogonum nudum var. oblongifolium (Harford's wild buckwheat) is a native California subshrub in the Polygonaceae family.
Harford's wild buckwheat is a California native perennial found in northwestern California, the Cascade Range, and northern Sierra Nevada in sandy or gravelly habitats at elevations of 20 to 1,900 meters. Flowering from May to October, this plant produces delicate white to rose or yellow flowers in loose, wide clusters 10 to 50 centimeters across. Growing 5 to 10 decimeters tall with tomentose to hairy stems, it develops an open, branching structure with multiple flowering stems. Its basal leaves are distinctive, measuring 2 to 4 centimeters long and 1.5 to 2 centimeters wide, with a tomentose underside and thinly hairy upper surface. The plant forms intricate inflorescences with 10 to 50 branches, creating an airy, elegant silhouette in its native habitat.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Sand or gravel
Elevation: 20-1900 m
California counties: Humboldt, Placer, Mendocino, Plumas, Butte, Tulare, Siskiyou, Trinity, El Dorado, Shasta, San Joaquin, Amador, Calaveras, Nevada, Sierra, Lake, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Tehama, Yolo, Yuba, Fresno, Napa, Sonoma, Tuolumne, Modoc, Alameda, Del Norte, Inyo
Outside California: southern Oregon, western Nevada
Bloom period
Eriogonum nudum var. oblongifolium blooms May-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 nudum var. oblongifolium native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum nudum var. oblongifolium is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum nudum var. oblongifolium bloom?
Eriogonum nudum var. oblongifolium blooms May-Oct.
Where in California does Eriogonum nudum var. oblongifolium grow?
Eriogonum nudum var. oblongifolium occurs in Humboldt, Placer, Mendocino, Plumas, Butte, Tulare, Siskiyou, Trinity and other counties, at elevations of 20-1900 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum nudum var. oblongifolium belong to?
Eriogonum nudum var. oblongifolium is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum nudum var. oblongifolium grow in?
Eriogonum nudum var. oblongifolium grows in Common. Sand or gravel.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriogonum nudum var. paralinum — Del norte buckwheat
- Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum — Little-flower wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum nudum var. psychicola — Antioch dunes buckwheat
- Eriogonum nudum var. pubiflorum — Fremont's wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum nudum var. regirivum — Kings river buckwheat
- Eriogonum nudum var. scapigerum — Sierran crest 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.