Eriogonum shockleyi var. shockleyi
Shockley's buckwheat
Jim Morefield from Nevada, USA (via Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Eriogonum shockleyi var. shockleyi (Shockley's buckwheat) is a native California perennial in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by small fuzzy leaves and head-like flower clusters distinctive.
Shockley's buckwheat is a California native perennial found in the northern Desert Mountains and eastern Sierra Nevada in gravel or clay habitats at elevations of 1,200 to 2,600 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces white to rose or yellow flowers in compact head-like clusters 0.8 to 2 centimeters wide. Growing as a low-spreading mat forming patches up to 4 meters in diameter, it develops short stems covered in dense hair. Its basal leaves are small and woolly, measuring 3 to 8 millimeters long with a tomentose surface that gives the plant a soft, grayish appearance. The plant's compact growth and distinctive white to rose flowers make it a subtle but charming component of its arid mountain habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 82 sympatric species; small fuzzy leaves and head-like flower clusters distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravel or clay
Elevation: (800)1200-2600 m
California counties: Inyo, Mono
Outside California: to southern Idaho, Colorado, northwestern New Mexico
Bloom period
Eriogonum shockleyi var. shockleyi blooms May-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 shockleyi var. shockleyi native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum shockleyi var. shockleyi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum shockleyi var. shockleyi bloom?
Eriogonum shockleyi var. shockleyi blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Eriogonum shockleyi var. shockleyi grow?
Eriogonum shockleyi var. shockleyi occurs in Inyo, Mono, at elevations of (800)1200-2600 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum shockleyi var. shockleyi belong to?
Eriogonum shockleyi var. shockleyi is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
Is Eriogonum shockleyi var. shockleyi rare or endangered?
Eriogonum shockleyi var. shockleyi carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.