Eriogonum rosense var. rosense
Mount rose wild buckwheat, Mount Rose Wild Buckwheat
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eriogonum rosense var. rosense (Mount rose wild buckwheat) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by sticky glandular leaves and bright flower clusters distinctive.
Mount rose wild buckwheat is a California native perennial found in northern central Sierra Nevada and northern Sierra Nevada east in sandy or gravelly habitats at elevations of 2,500 to 4,000 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces bright yellow to red-yellow flowers in compact head-like clusters approximately 0.6 to 1.5 centimeters wide. Growing as a low mat-forming perennial with stems 10 to 9 centimeters tall, it has distinctly glandular-hairy stems and branches. Its basal leaves are small and dense, with blades 0.4 to 1.5 centimeters long, covered in soft tomentose (woolly) indumentum. The compact plant forms low clusters up to 5 centimeters in diameter, creating a delicate ground-hugging arrangement in high-elevation alpine environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 50 sympatric species; sticky glandular leaves and bright flower clusters distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sand or gravel
Elevation: (2300)2500-4000 m
California counties: Mono, Shasta, Sierra, El Dorado, Alpine, Inyo, Fresno, Tuolumne
Outside California: western Nevada
Bloom period
Eriogonum rosense var. rosense blooms Jul-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 rosense var. rosense native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum rosense var. rosense is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum rosense var. rosense bloom?
Eriogonum rosense var. rosense blooms Jul-Sep.
Where in California does Eriogonum rosense var. rosense grow?
Eriogonum rosense var. rosense occurs in Mono, Shasta, Sierra, El Dorado, Alpine, Inyo, Fresno, Tuolumne, at elevations of (2300)2500-4000 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum rosense var. rosense belong to?
Eriogonum rosense var. rosense is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum rosense var. rosense grow in?
Eriogonum rosense var. rosense grows in 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.