Eriogonum vimineum
Wicker-stem wild buckwheat
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eriogonum vimineum (Wicker-stem wild buckwheat) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by annual habit, round leaves, appressed flowers.
Wicker-stem wild buckwheat is a California native annual found in northeastern Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, northern Sierra Nevada, and Modoc Plateau in sandy or gravelly habitats at elevations of 50 to 2,400 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces white to rose or pale yellow flowers in small clusters. Growing with delicate stems 5 to 30 centimeters tall, which are sparsely hairy and sometimes nearly smooth, it forms compact plants. Its basal leaves are rounded, measuring 0.5 to 2 centimeters long, with a soft, woolly texture on the undersides. The tiny flowers, about 2 to 2.5 millimeters long, have outer perianth lobes that are widely spoon-shaped.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 96 sympatric species; distinguished by annual habit, round leaves, appressed flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Sand or gravel
Elevation: 50-2400 m
California counties: Mendocino, Los Angeles, Alpine, Siskiyou, Trinity, Modoc, Lassen, Shasta, Plumas, Tehama, San Luis Obispo, Butte, Kern, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, Mariposa, Mono, Sierra, Alameda, Humboldt, Lake, Placer, Riverside, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Contra Costa, Nevada, Tuolumne, Tulare, Napa, Ventura, Monterey, San Diego, Marin, Fresno, San Mateo, Del Norte, Santa Barbara, Inyo, El Dorado
Outside California: to southeastern Washington, western Idaho, northern Nevada
Bloom period
Eriogonum vimineum blooms May-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 vimineum native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum vimineum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum vimineum bloom?
Eriogonum vimineum blooms May-Sep.
Where in California does Eriogonum vimineum grow?
Eriogonum vimineum occurs in Mendocino, Los Angeles, Alpine, Siskiyou, Trinity, Modoc, Lassen, Shasta and other counties, at elevations of 50-2400 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum vimineum belong to?
Eriogonum vimineum is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum vimineum grow in?
Eriogonum vimineum grows in Common. Sand or gravel.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriogonum viridescens — Two-toothed wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum wrightii — Bastard-sage
- Eriogonum wrightii var. membranaceum — Ringed-stem bastard-sage
- Eriogonum wrightii var. nodosum — Knot-stem bastard-sage
- Eriogonum wrightii var. olanchense — Olancha peak buckwheat
- Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum — Short-stemmed bastard-sage
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.