Fallopia baldschuanica
Bukhara fleeceflower
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Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Vine · Not Native
Fallopia baldschuanica (Bukhara fleeceflower) is a non-native California vine in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by woody climbing habit and pink-winged flowers.
Bukhara fleeceflower is a naturalized perennial vine found in southern California coastal regions, San Francisco Bay Area, and potentially other disturbed places at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from August to October, this plant produces green-white flowers with white wings or mostly pink, clustered in spreading panicle-like clusters 3 to 15 centimeters long. Growing as a woody climbing vine reaching 2 to 10 meters tall, it has branches emerging near the base with smooth stems. Its leaves have heart-shaped bases, narrow to oblong-ovate blades 3 to 10 centimeters long, and distinctive brown ocrea (stipule-like sheaths) 3 to 8 millimeters wide with truncate margins. The fruit is small, dark brown to black, shiny, and 2 to 4 millimeters long, remaining enclosed within the flower structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; distinguished by woody climbing habit and pink-winged flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed places
Elevation: < 500 m
Outside California: to eastern North America, ornamental native to central Asia often escaping from cultivation, introduced to Central America, Europe
Bloom period
Fallopia baldschuanica blooms Aug-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Sonchus: Fallopia has smooth-edged leaves; Sonchus has deeply lobed leaves with prickly edges and milky sap.; vs Oxyria: Fallopia is a climbing vine; Oxyria is an upright herb with kidney-shaped basal leaves.; vs Bistorta: Fallopia climbs with heart-shaped leaves; Bistorta grows upright with dense flower spikes.; vs Persicaria: Fallopia is a climbing vine; Persicaria is upright or sprawling, not climbing.; vs Aconogonon: Fallopia climbs; Aconogonon forms upright clumps in high mountains.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fallopia baldschuanica native to California?
No. Fallopia baldschuanica is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Fallopia baldschuanica bloom?
Fallopia baldschuanica blooms Aug-Oct.
What plant family does Fallopia baldschuanica belong to?
Fallopia baldschuanica is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Fallopia.
What habitat does Fallopia baldschuanica grow in?
Fallopia baldschuanica grows in Disturbed places.
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.