Erodium cicutarium
Redstem filaree, Redstem Filaree
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Geraniaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Erodium cicutarium (Redstem filaree) is a non-native California herb in the Geraniaceae family, recognized by most finely divided leaves, smallest flowers, compound leaf structure diagnostic.
Redstem filaree is a naturalized annual found throughout California in open, disturbed sites, grasslands, and scrub areas at elevations below 2,000 meters. Flowering from February to September, this plant produces pink to purple flowers with darker veined bases in delicate clusters. Growing with decumbent to ascending stems 10 to 50 centimeters tall that are glandular-hairy, it spreads easily across disturbed landscapes. Its compound leaves feature 9 to 13 deeply dissected leaflets with narrow segments approximately 1 to 2 millimeters wide, creating a finely textured appearance. The plant produces distinctive fruit bodies 4 to 7 millimeters long with nearly round pits and a slender style column extending 2 to 5 centimeters.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; most finely divided leaves, smallest flowers, compound leaf structure diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, disturbed sites, grassland, scrub
Elevation: < 2000 m
California counties: Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Kern, Fresno, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Mariposa, Riverside, Monterey, Orange, Lake, Santa Clara, San Diego, Glenn, San Benito, Modoc, Butte, Santa Cruz, San Joaquin, Inyo, Contra Costa, Imperial, Merced, Tulare, San Francisco, Alameda, Tuolumne, Siskiyou, Madera, San Mateo, Yuba, Yolo, Lassen, El Dorado, Plumas, Solano, Amador, Sutter, Colusa, Calaveras, Nevada, Mono, Marin, Sacramento, Placer, Tehama, Mendocino, Humboldt, Alpine, Shasta, Napa, Stanislaus, Kings, Trinity, Del Norte, Sierra, Sonoma
Outside California: widespread United States, native to Eurasia
Bloom period
Erodium cicutarium blooms Feb-Sep.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Geranium: Erodium leaves are pinnately divided like a feather; Geranium leaves are palmately divided like spread fingers.; vs Phacelia: Erodium has umbrella-like flower clusters and long-beaked fruits; Phacelia has coiled flower clusters and rounded capsules.; vs Malva: Erodium has pinnately-divided leaves and 5 petals; Malva has palmately-lobed leaves and many stamens fused in a column.; vs Sisyrinchium: Erodium has feathery divided leaves and pink umbel flowers; Sisyrinchium has grasslike leaves and blue-purple iris-like flowers.; vs Pelargonium: Erodium is herbaceous with pinnately-divided leaves; Pelargonium is shrubby with asymmetrical flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Erodium cicutarium native to California?
No. Erodium cicutarium is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Erodium cicutarium bloom?
Erodium cicutarium blooms Feb-Sep.
Where in California does Erodium cicutarium grow?
Erodium cicutarium occurs in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Kern, Fresno, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Mariposa and other counties, at elevations of < 2000 m.
What plant family does Erodium cicutarium belong to?
Erodium cicutarium is in the Geraniaceae family, genus Erodium.
Is Erodium cicutarium invasive in California?
Erodium cicutarium is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.