It is native to the western United States, including the Pacific Northwest and part of the Great Basin.

The inflorescence arises on a solid, erect flowering stem up to 15 centimeters tall with a whorl of bracts midway up.

The very similar E. thymoides usually has more rolled back leaves that appear nearly cylindrical and with a tightly clasping involucre.

[1][2] Eriogonum douglasii is native to Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and northern California in dry areas at moderate elevations.

elkoense (Sunflower Flat wild buckwheat) is endemic to Elko County, Nevada.