Eriogonum thurberi
Thurber's wild buckwheat, Thurber's Wild Buckwheat
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eriogonum thurberi (Thurber's wild buckwheat) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by distinctive straight thread-like peduncles and flower tufts.
Thurber's wild buckwheat is a California native annual found in eastern Peninsular Ranges, southern Mojave Desert, and Sonoran Desert regions in sandy habitats at elevations of 100 to 1,200 meters. Flowering throughout the year, this plant produces white to red flowers in delicate, thread-like inflorescences up to 50 centimeters wide. Growing 0.5 to 4 decimeters tall with erect, slender stems that are glabrous with sparse glandular hairs near the base, it forms loose, open branching patterns. Its basal leaves are distinctive, measuring 0.8 to 4.5 centimeters long and 0.5 to 3 centimeters wide, with a tomentose undersurface and sparsely hairy or smooth upper surface. The fruit is a small, elliptic seed approximately 0.6 to 0.8 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 73 sympatric species; distinctive straight thread-like peduncles and flower tufts
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Sand
Elevation: 100-1200 m
Outside California: to southwestern New Mexico, northwestern Mexico
Bloom period
Eriogonum thurberi 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 thurberi native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum thurberi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum thurberi bloom?
Eriogonum thurberi blooms All year.
What plant family does Eriogonum thurberi belong to?
Eriogonum thurberi is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum thurberi grow in?
Eriogonum thurberi grows in Common. Sand.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.