It grows in many types of habitat, including chaparral, montane, woodland, and grasslands.

It is often found on clay soils, and also in sandy places.

Eriogonum gracile is an annual herb which is quite variable in appearance.

It grows erect to decumbent with a slender, branching stem 10 to 70 centimeters long, sometimes with a thick coat of woolly fibers and sometimes nearly hairless.

The oblong leaves are borne on short petioles, the largest at the base of the plant with blades approaching 6 centimeters long.