Eriogonum parvifolium is a species in the Polygonaceae family that occurs on dune formations and sea cliffs in the coastal area of Central and Southern California. This evergreen shrub grows to a height of 30 to 100 centimeters with a spread of approximately the same dimension. This plant is an important host for a number of pollinating insects including certain endangered species. E. parvifolium occurs both on bluffs along the Pacific Ocean coast as well as Coastal Strand dunes formations, but is restricted to altitudes below 700 meters. In at least one instance within the Carbonera Creek watershed, it occurs farther inland in a Maritime Coast Range Ponderosa Pine forest. This shrub is also known by the common names Dune buckwheat, Coast buckwheat, Cliff buckwheat, or Seacliff buckwheat. The thick cauline leaves are five to thirty millimeters in size and may be lance-shaped to rounded. Alternatively leaves may be folded under, with the result of appearing more or less triangular; moreover they are smooth on the upper surfaces and woolly below. Foliage is green with reddish tinge, and the flowers white to pinkish or yellowish-green. The perianth measures 2.5 to 3.0 millimeters. This plant's smooth fruits are 2.5 to 3.0 millimeters across.

Sea Cliff Buckwheat is a great plant for coastal and seaside landscapes. It prefers full sun in its natural range, and does best in sandy soils, or on rocky slopes or cliffs. Easy, fast growing, very drought-tolerant and beautiful. It looks great hanging down over cliffs, slopes or walls, and is an important butterfly plant in the seaside and coastal plant communities.