Eriogonum wrightii
Bastard-sage
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Eriogonum wrightii (Bastard-sage) is a native California shrub in the Polygonaceae family.
Bastard-sage is a California native shrub found in rocky, open habitats at elevations ranging from low to moderate mountain zones. Flowering from early summer to fall, this plant produces delicate white to pink flowers in loose, spreading clusters up to 40 centimeters wide. Growing as a compact subshrub reaching 1 to 10 decimeters tall, it forms dense mats with tomentose or occasionally glabrous stems. Its leaves are narrow and linear, typically 1 to 3 centimeters long, with margins that can curl slightly underneath. The plant's small white to rose-colored flower lobes create a soft, understated appearance characteristic of high desert and mountain landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated - no sympatric species
Habitat and range
California counties: San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Tulare, Santa Clara, Inyo, Kern, Mariposa, Alpine, El Dorado, Monterey, Yolo, Ventura, Placer, Kings, Sacramento, Calaveras, Nevada, Lake, Fresno, Colusa, Amador, Tuolumne
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 wrightii native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum wrightii is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Eriogonum wrightii grow?
Eriogonum wrightii occurs in San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Tulare, Santa Clara, Inyo and other counties.
What plant family does Eriogonum wrightii belong to?
Eriogonum wrightii is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Eriogonum wrightii var. trachygonum — Rough-node bastard-sage
- Eriogonum wrightii var. wrightii — Wright's 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.