Matted Wild Buckwheat
Eriogonum caespitosum · Polygonaceae
- Form
- Perennial
- Height
- 0.1–0.5 ft
- Sun
- Full Sun
- Water
- Very Low
- Blooms
- May, Jun, Jul
- Habitat
- Sagebrush Scrub · Desert
🌿 California native
Quick facts
- Habitat: Open Sagebrush Scrub and desert flats
- Form / size: Low mat-forming perennial, just a few inches tall
- Sun: Full sun · Water: Very low
- Blooms: Late spring–summer · Pollinator value: Moderate
Description
A tiny east-side buckwheat that stays close to the ground in low mats or cushions, then lifts up small flower clusters above the foliage. It is the kind of plant people miss until they slow down and start reading the ground layer.
Wildlife & pollinators
Supports small native pollinators and adds diversity to the low herb layer of dry shrublands.
Habitat & range
Open gravelly flats, sage edges, and sparse high-desert ground of the eastern Sierra transition and Great Basin country.
In the garden
Best for rock gardens or true dry native collections where subtle, low-growing species can be appreciated up close.
Propagation
From seed. Needs open mineral soil and restraint with water.
Where to see it near you
- iNaturalist — observed across California (map)
- Common on dry east-side ground around Bishop and nearby parts of the Eastern Sierra.
