Eriogonum ordii
Fort mohave wild buckwheat, Fort Mohave Wild Buckwheat
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eriogonum ordii (Fort mohave wild buckwheat) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by tall annual habit with open branching pattern distinctive.
Fort mohave wild buckwheat is a California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada Foothills, Tehachapi, south Coast Ranges, and northern Western Transverse Ranges in clay habitats at elevations of 200 to 1,400 meters. Flowering from March to July, this plant produces white to pale yellow flowers occasionally tinged with red, small and delicate with densely hairy perianth lobes. Growing with slender stems 30 to 70 centimeters tall, ranging from sparsely hairy to nearly smooth. Its primarily basal leaves measure 2 to 8 centimeters long and 1 to 3 centimeters wide, with a sparse tomentose or glabrous surface. The plant develops thread-like flower branches up to 50 centimeters wide with tiny involucres and delicate erect peduncles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 82 sympatric species; tall annual habit with open branching pattern distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Clay
Elevation: 200-1400 m
California counties: Kern, Los Angeles, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, San Benito, Ventura, Imperial, Fresno, Santa Barbara, Merced, San Diego, Inyo
Bloom period
Eriogonum ordii blooms Mar-Jul.
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 ordii native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum ordii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum ordii bloom?
Eriogonum ordii blooms Mar-Jul.
Where in California does Eriogonum ordii grow?
Eriogonum ordii occurs in Kern, Los Angeles, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, San Benito, Ventura, Imperial, Fresno and other counties, at elevations of 200-1400 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum ordii belong to?
Eriogonum ordii is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum ordii grow in?
Eriogonum ordii grows in Clay.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriogonum ovalifolium — Cushion buckwheat
- Eriogonum ovalifolium var. caelestinum — Heavenly wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum ovalifolium var. depressum — Depressed wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum ovalifolium var. eximium — Brown-margined buckwheat
- Eriogonum ovalifolium var. monarchense — Monarch buckwheat
- Eriogonum ovalifolium var. nivale — Sierran cushion 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.