Erodium texanum
Texas filaree, Texas Filaree
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Geraniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Erodium texanum (Texas filaree) is a native California herb in the Geraniaceae family, recognized by only native species, densely hairy simple leaves, unequal petals, fruit without pits/glands.
Texas filaree is a California native annual found in southern San Joaquin Valley, southern Southern California, Peninsular Ranges, and Desert regions in dry, open scrub sites at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from February to June, this plant produces pink to purple flowers 7 to 15 millimeters long with unequal petals. Growing with prostrate to ascending stems 10 to 50 centimeters long that are somewhat hairy, it spreads in low, sprawling clusters. Its simple leaves are 1.5 to 4 centimeters long, ovate to heart-shaped, deeply lobed, and densely covered in fine hairs. The fruit develops a slender style column 3 to 7 centimeters long, creating a distinctive beak-like appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; only native species, densely hairy simple leaves, unequal petals, fruit without pits/glands
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, open sites, scrub
Elevation: < 1500 m
California counties: Kern, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, Imperial, Inyo, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Kings, Merced, Amador
Outside California: to Texas, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Erodium texanum blooms Feb-Jun.
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 texanum native to California?
Yes. Erodium texanum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erodium texanum bloom?
Erodium texanum blooms Feb-Jun.
Where in California does Erodium texanum grow?
Erodium texanum occurs in Kern, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, Imperial, Inyo, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo and other counties, at elevations of < 1500 m.
What plant family does Erodium texanum belong to?
Erodium texanum is in the Geraniaceae family, genus Erodium.
What habitat does Erodium texanum grow in?
Erodium texanum grows in Dry, open sites, scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Erodium botrys — Big heron bill
- Erodium brachycarpum — Foothill filaree
- Erodium cicutarium — Redstem filaree
- Erodium cygnorum — Australian filaree
- Erodium malacoides — Mediterranean filaree
- Erodium moschatum — Greenstem filaree
- Geraniaceae sp. — Geranium family
- Geranium aequale
- Geranium bicknellii — Bicknell's cranesbill
- Geranium californicum — California cranesbill
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.