The hairy leaves are linear to spatulate and flat or rolled under at the edges and up to 1.0 cm in length.

Each flower stem has a whorl of small bract-like leaves near the midpoint and is topped by a head-like inflorescence up to 2 cm wide.

[3] Eriogonum thymoides can be distinguished from the similar to Eriogonum douglasii by its (usually) smaller leaf size, and by its involucre lobes, which are erect and appressed in E. thymoides, and spreading to reflexed in E. douglasii (the involucre is the bract that envelopes the base of the flower head).

[1] Eriogonum thymoides is native to dry regions of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, where there are three main population groups.

[2] This plant grows in sagebrush, ponderosa pine forest openings, and mountain ridges, often on very shallow rocky soil above basalt.