Eriogonum wrightii var. wrightii
Wright's bastard-sage, Wright's Bastard-Sage
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Eriogonum wrightii var. wrightii (Wright's bastard-sage) is a native California subshrub in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by Mojave Desert distribution and moderate elevation.
Wright's bastard-sage is a California native shrub found in the Mojave Desert on sand, gravel, and rocky terrain at elevations of 900 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from July to October, this plant produces white to pink or rose-colored flowers in small involucres 2 to 2.5 millimeters long. Growing as a compact shrub 1.5 to 5 meters tall with a spread of 1 to 12 meters, it forms a dense, rounded shape. Its small leaves are narrow, measuring 0.5 to 1.5 centimeters long and 0.2 to 0.5 centimeters wide. The fruit is 2.5 to 3 millimeters long, complementing the plant's delicate structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 57 sympatric species; distinguished by Mojave Desert distribution and moderate elevation
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Sand, gravel or rocks
Elevation: (300)900-2200 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo, Ventura, Alpine, Monterey, Placer, Yolo, Kern, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Tulare, San Diego
Outside California: to western Texas, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Eriogonum wrightii var. wrightii blooms Jul-Oct.
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 var. wrightii native to California?
Yes. Eriogonum wrightii var. wrightii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eriogonum wrightii var. wrightii bloom?
Eriogonum wrightii var. wrightii blooms Jul-Oct.
Where in California does Eriogonum wrightii var. wrightii grow?
Eriogonum wrightii var. wrightii occurs in San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo, Ventura, Alpine, Monterey, Placer, Yolo and other counties, at elevations of (300)900-2200 m.
What plant family does Eriogonum wrightii var. wrightii belong to?
Eriogonum wrightii var. wrightii is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Eriogonum.
What habitat does Eriogonum wrightii var. wrightii grow in?
Eriogonum wrightii var. wrightii grows in Uncommon. Sand, gravel or rocks.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eriogonum alexanderae — Alexander's buckwheat
- Eriogonum alpinum — Trinity buckwheat
- Eriogonum ampullaceum — Mono wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum angulosum — Angle-stem wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum apiculatum — San jacinto wild buckwheat
- Eriogonum apricum — Ione buckwheat
- Fallopia baldschuanica — Bukhara fleeceflower
- Fallopia ×bohemica — Bohemian knotweed
- Fallopia convolvulus — Black bindweed
- Fallopia japonica — Japanese knotweed
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.