Eriogonum ovalifolium var. ovalifolium
Cushion wild buckwheat
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Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Eriogonum ovalifolium var. ovalifolium (Cushion wild buckwheat) is a native California subshrub in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by large size, yellow flowers, and east-side location distinctive.
Cushion wild buckwheat is a California native perennial found in the eastern Sierra Nevada and Great Basin regions in sandy or gravelly habitats at elevations of 600 to 2,600 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces yellow flowers in compact clusters approximately 1 to 3.5 centimeters wide. Growing as a low cushion-like plant 25 to 40 centimeters in diameter with erect stems 5 to 20 centimeters tall, it has a distinctively woolly or tomentose appearance. Its oval-shaped leaves are 1 to 6 centimeters long, covered in dense soft hairs that give the plant a grayish-green texture. The plant forms dense, mat-like clusters that help it survive in harsh, exposed mountain environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 102 sympatric species; large size, yellow flowers, and east-side location distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Sand or gravel
Elevation: 600-2600 m
California counties: Inyo, Modoc, Mono, Siskiyou, Lassen, Plumas, Placer, Sierra
Outside California: to eastern Washington, western Montana, northwestern Colorado
Bloom period
Eriogonum ovalifolium var. ovalifolium blooms Apr-Aug.
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 ovalifolium var. ovalifolium native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum ovalifolium var. ovalifolium is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum ovalifolium var. ovalifolium bloom?
Eriogonum ovalifolium var. ovalifolium blooms Apr-Aug.
Where in California does Eriogonum ovalifolium var. ovalifolium grow?
Eriogonum ovalifolium var. ovalifolium occurs in Inyo, Modoc, Mono, Siskiyou, Lassen, Plumas, Placer, Sierra, at elevations of 600-2600 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum ovalifolium var. ovalifolium belong to?
Eriogonum ovalifolium var. ovalifolium is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum ovalifolium var. ovalifolium grow in?
Eriogonum ovalifolium var. ovalifolium grows in Common. Sand or gravel.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriogonum ovalifolium var. purpureum — Purple cushion wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum ovalifolium var. vineum — Cushenbury buckwheat
- Eriogonum palmerianum — Palmer's wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum panamintense — Panamint mountain wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum parishii — Parish's wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum parvifolium — Seacliff 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.