Eriogonum reniforme
Kidney-leaf wild buckwheat
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eriogonum reniforme (Kidney-leaf wild buckwheat) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by kidney-shaped leaves are distinctive.
Kidney-leaf wild buckwheat is a California native annual found in the southern Coast Ranges in sandy habitats at elevations below 1,700 meters. Flowering from February to August, this plant produces yellow to reddish flowers in delicate, curved inflorescences up to 35 centimeters long. Growing as a small annual reaching 10 to 40 centimeters tall with slender, mostly glabrous stems, it develops distinctive round basal leaves. Its leaves are approximately 5 to 25 millimeters wide, rounded with soft tomentose surfaces that are whitish or grayish underneath. The tiny elliptic fruits are less than 1 millimeter long, completing this diminutive and delicate wildflower's life cycle.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 58 sympatric species; diagnostic kidney-shaped leaves are distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Sand
Elevation: < 1700 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Kern, Riverside, Mono, San Diego, Imperial, Santa Cruz, Los Angeles
Outside California: Nevada, Arizona, northern Baja California
Bloom period
Eriogonum reniforme blooms Feb-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 reniforme native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum reniforme is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum reniforme bloom?
Eriogonum reniforme blooms Feb-Aug.
Where in California does Eriogonum reniforme grow?
Eriogonum reniforme occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Kern, Riverside, Mono, San Diego, Imperial, Santa Cruz and other counties, at elevations of < 1700 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum reniforme belong to?
Eriogonum reniforme is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum reniforme grow in?
Eriogonum reniforme grows in Common. Sand.
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.