Eriogonum spergulinum var. reddingianum
Redding's wild buckwheat
(c) Tim Messick, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tim Messick · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eriogonum spergulinum var. reddingianum (Redding's wild buckwheat) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by erect habit and glandular internodes separate from other varieties.
Redding's wild buckwheat is a California native annual found in northern California mountain ranges including the North Coast Ranges, Cascade Ranges, Sierra Nevada, northern South Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, and Great Basin in sandy or gravelly habitats at elevations of 1,300 to 3,400 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces small, delicate flowers with subtle cream or white coloration. Growing with erect stems 8 to 40 centimeters tall, the plant has distinctively glandular internodes that give it a slightly sticky texture. Its leaves are sparse and slender, forming a delicate framework for the plant's subtle flowering structure. The tiny flowers, measuring 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters long, are typically glabrous or sparsely hairy, contributing to the plant's understated botanical charm.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 162 sympatric species; erect habit and glandular internodes separate from other varieties
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Sand or gravel
Elevation: 1300-3400 m
California counties: Fresno, Mono, Inyo, Tuolumne, Tehama, Siskiyou, Calaveras, Ventura, Plumas, Alpine, Madera, Placer, Tulare, Shasta, Sierra, El Dorado, Lassen, Trinity, Kern, Glenn, Butte, Nevada, Monterey, Colusa, Mariposa, Modoc, Amador, Mendocino, Lake, San Joaquin, Los Angeles
Outside California: to Oregon, Idaho, Nevada
Bloom period
Eriogonum spergulinum var. reddingianum blooms Jun-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 spergulinum var. reddingianum native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum spergulinum var. reddingianum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum spergulinum var. reddingianum bloom?
Eriogonum spergulinum var. reddingianum blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Eriogonum spergulinum var. reddingianum grow?
Eriogonum spergulinum var. reddingianum occurs in Fresno, Mono, Inyo, Tuolumne, Tehama, Siskiyou, Calaveras, Ventura and other counties, at elevations of 1300-3400 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum spergulinum var. reddingianum belong to?
Eriogonum spergulinum var. reddingianum is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum spergulinum var. reddingianum grow in?
Eriogonum spergulinum var. reddingianum grows in Common. Sand or gravel.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriogonum spergulinum var. spergulinum — Spurry wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum sphaerocephalum — Rock buckwheat
- Eriogonum sphaerocephalum var. halimioides — Halimium wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum sphaerocephalum var. sphaerocephalum — Rock wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum strictum — Blue mountain buckwheat
- Eriogonum strictum var. anserinum — Goose lake 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.