Erodium moschatum
Greenstem filaree, Greenstem Filaree
(c) Tony Wills, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Tony Wills · licence
Family: Geraniaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Erodium moschatum (Greenstem filaree) is a non-native California herb in the Geraniaceae family, recognized by compound leaves with shallowly lobed leaflets, large petals, glandular fruit pits.
Greenstem filaree is a naturalized annual herb found in California's Central Valley and Coastal regions in open, disturbed sites at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from February to September, this plant produces delicate pink to pale pink flowers about 10 to 15 millimeters long. Growing with decumbent to ascending stems 10 to 60 centimeters tall that are covered in short hairs, it has a sprawling habit across disturbed ground. Its compound leaves feature 11 to 15 leaflets that are deeply lobed, with ultimate leaf segments 1 to 4 millimeters wide, giving the plant a finely dissected appearance. The fruit develops with a body 4 to 6 millimeters long, accompanied by a distinctive elongated style column 2 to 4 centimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; compound leaves with shallowly lobed leaflets, large petals, glandular fruit pits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, disturbed sites
Elevation: < 1500 m
California counties: Kern, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, Yolo, Ventura, Orange, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, Sonoma, San Joaquin, Riverside, Monterey, Santa Clara, Madera, San Bernardino, Alameda, Tehama, Colusa, Tulare, Sutter, Fresno, El Dorado, Amador, Butte, Nevada, Solano, Contra Costa, Glenn, Mendocino, Merced, Kings, Humboldt, Calaveras, Sacramento, Marin, Yuba, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, Napa, San Mateo
Outside California: native to Europe
Bloom period
Erodium moschatum blooms Feb-Sep.
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 moschatum native to California?
No. Erodium moschatum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Erodium moschatum bloom?
Erodium moschatum blooms Feb-Sep.
Where in California does Erodium moschatum grow?
Erodium moschatum occurs in Kern, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, Yolo, Ventura, Orange, San Francisco and other counties, at elevations of < 1500 m.
What plant family does Erodium moschatum belong to?
Erodium moschatum is in the Geraniaceae family, genus Erodium.
What habitat does Erodium moschatum grow in?
Erodium moschatum grows in Open, disturbed sites.
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.