Desert Trumpet
Eriogonum inflatum · Polygonaceae
- Form
- Perennial herb
- Height
- 1-3 ft
- Sun
- Full Sun
- Water
- Very Low
- Blooms
- Apr, May, Jun
- Pet toxicity
- Unknown
- Habitat
- Desert
🌿 California native
Quick facts · Habitat: Desert flats, washes, rocky slopes · Form / size: Perennial herb, 1-3 ft · Sun: Full sun · Water: Very low · Blooms: Spring-early summer · Pollinator value: Moderate
Description
A strange and memorable wild buckwheat with inflated, hollow-looking stems and small yellowish flower clusters. The swollen stems are the key field mark.
Wildlife & pollinators
Small bees and flies visit the buckwheat flowers. Seed and structure contribute to desert microhabitat.
Habitat & range
Desert washes, sandy or gravelly flats, rocky slopes, bajadas, and open desert scrub across Southern California deserts.
In the garden
More of a curiosity or restoration plant than a standard landscape choice. Needs desert drainage and low competition.
Propagation
From seed. Sow in fall or winter on open mineral soil; do not overwater.
Where to see it near you
- iNaturalist — observed in Southern California
- Desert washes, bajadas, and rocky flats.
Problems
Very sensitive to overwatering and competition. Best left in lean desert-style plantings.
