Eriogonum thomasii
Thomas' wild buckwheat, Thomas' Wild Buckwheat
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eriogonum thomasii (Thomas' wild buckwheat) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by distinctive white-fuzzy leaf undersides and tiny flowers on spreading stalks.
Thomas' wild buckwheat is a California native annual herb found in the southern desert bioregion in sandy habitats at elevations of 70 to 1,200 meters. Flowering throughout the year, this plant produces yellow flowers that transition to white and rose, appearing in delicate thread-like clusters. Growing 5 to 30 centimeters tall with slender, mostly glabrous stems that have a few glandular hairs near the base, it develops a distinctive growth pattern. Its basal leaves are round to kidney-shaped, densely white-woolly on the undersides and sparsely hairy on the upper surfaces, measuring 0.5 to 2 centimeters across. The fruit is a small, generally elliptic structure approximately 0.8 to 1 millimeter long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 58 sympatric species; distinctive white-fuzzy leaf undersides and tiny flowers on spreading stalks
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Sand
Elevation: -70-1200 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Riverside, Imperial, San Diego, Inyo, Kern, Tulare
Outside California: to southwestern Utah, Arizona, northwestern Mexico
Bloom period
Eriogonum thomasii blooms All year.
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 thomasii native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum thomasii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum thomasii bloom?
Eriogonum thomasii blooms All year.
Where in California does Eriogonum thomasii grow?
Eriogonum thomasii occurs in San Bernardino, Riverside, Imperial, San Diego, Inyo, Kern, Tulare, at elevations of -70-1200 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum thomasii belong to?
Eriogonum thomasii is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum thomasii grow in?
Eriogonum thomasii 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.