Eriogonum nudum var. westonii
Weston's wild buckwheat
Photo: parent species Eriogonum nudum · no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Eriogonum nudum var. westonii (Weston's wild buckwheat) is a native California subshrub in the Polygonaceae family.
Weston's wild buckwheat is a California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi, southern Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, southern eastern Sierra Nevada, and western Mojave Desert in sandy or gravelly habitats at elevations of 700 to 1,900 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces yellow or white flowers approximately 2.5 to 3 millimeters long with delicate hairy perianths. Growing 30 to 60 centimeters tall with distinctively inflated glabrous stems, the plant has an open, branching structure. Its basal leaves are 1 to 3 centimeters long and 0.3 to 0.8 centimeters wide, with a tomentose surface that appears soft and woolly on both upper and lower sides. The plant forms an open inflorescence 10 to 30 centimeters long with branches spreading up to 20 centimeters wide.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Sand or gravel
Elevation: 700-1900 m
California counties: Kern, Inyo, Tulare, Mono, Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Madera, Santa Barbara, Shasta
Bloom period
Eriogonum nudum var. westonii blooms May-Sep.
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. westonii native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum nudum var. westonii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum nudum var. westonii bloom?
Eriogonum nudum var. westonii blooms May-Sep.
Where in California does Eriogonum nudum var. westonii grow?
Eriogonum nudum var. westonii occurs in Kern, Inyo, Tulare, Mono, Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo and other counties, at elevations of 700-1900 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum nudum var. westonii belong to?
Eriogonum nudum var. westonii is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum nudum var. westonii grow in?
Eriogonum nudum var. westonii 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.