Eriogonum umbellatum var. covillei
Coville's sulphur flower
Photo: parent species Eriogonum umbellatum · Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Eriogonum umbellatum var. covillei (Coville's sulphur flower) is a native California subshrub in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by NONE sympatric - geographically isolated at very high elevations.
Coville's sulphur flower is a California native perennial found in the central Sierra Nevada Mountains of Inyo and Tulare counties and the northern White Mountains of Mono County on gravelly or rocky sites at elevations of 3,000 to 3,600 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces distinctive yellow flowers 2 to 4 millimeters long in compact umbels. Growing as a low mat 1 to 5 meters in diameter with stems 3 to 9 centimeters tall that are softly tomentose to nearly smooth, it forms dense ground-hugging clusters. Its small leaves are 3 to 6 millimeters long, generally covered in soft woolly hairs, and clustered tightly around the stem. The plant's compact mat-like growth and bright yellow flowers make it a distinctive alpine wildflower adapted to harsh, rocky mountain environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: NONE sympatric - geographically isolated at very high elevations
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravel or rocks
Elevation: 3000-3600 m
Bloom period
Eriogonum umbellatum var. covillei 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 umbellatum var. covillei native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum umbellatum var. covillei is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum umbellatum var. covillei bloom?
Eriogonum umbellatum var. covillei blooms Jul-Sep.
What plant family does Eriogonum umbellatum var. covillei belong to?
Eriogonum umbellatum var. covillei is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum umbellatum var. covillei grow in?
Eriogonum umbellatum var. covillei grows in Gravel or rocks.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriogonum umbellatum var. dichrocephalum — Bicolor sulphur flower
- Eriogonum umbellatum var. dumosum — American valley sulphur flower
- Eriogonum umbellatum var. furcosum — Sierra nevada sulphur flower
- Eriogonum umbellatum var. glaberrimum — Warner mountains buckwheat
- Eriogonum umbellatum var. goodmanii — Goodman's sulphur flower
- Eriogonum umbellatum var. humistratum — Mount eddy buckwheat
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.