Yes, it is often classified as a weed in lawns and gardens, though it provides value to pollinators.

Does it need much water?

No, it is quite drought tolerant once established.

Plant guide

Common storksbill.

Erodium cicutarium

Pronounced eh-RO-dee-um sik-yoo-TAIR-ee-um

Also known as Alfilaria, Alfileria, Common Crowfoot, Common Erodium, Common Heron's-bill, Common Stork's-Bill, Common Storksbill, Filaree

Redstem Stork's-bill — Photo by Rick Robb (CC BY) via iNaturalist

This hardy little plant is a common sight in fields and along roadsides. It is known for its ferny leaves and delicate pink flowers that turn into long, beak like seed pods. It is quite adaptable and often grows as an annual in many climates.

Another photo of Common storksbill — Photo by Bruce Hartman (CC BY) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Annual herb
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 12 to 20 inches
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 3 to 9
Bloom time: Early spring to late summer

Care

This plant thrives in full sun and prefers well drained soil. Keep an eye out for overcrowding if you are growing it in a container. It is very drought tolerant once established.

Watering: Water only when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: A light application of balanced liquid fertilizer during the growing season is plenty.
Pruning: Trim back spent flower stalks to encourage more blooms and keep the plant tidy.
Repotting: Since it is often grown as an annual, you likely will not need to repot it often.
Soil: Sandy or rocky well drained soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: -15 to 35°C
Humidity: 20 to 60%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Annual or biennial, typically 1 year.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water draining through the pot too quickly.

Safety

People: There are no known significant toxic effects to humans from this plant.
Children: The seeds have sharp, pointed ends that could potentially cause minor skin pricks if handled by small children.
Contact allergens: The fine hairs on the stems and leaves may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: The pollen may trigger mild seasonal allergies in susceptible people.
Edibility: While the young leaves are sometimes consumed in salads, they can be bitter and are not widely considered a culinary herb.

How to identify it

Fern like pinnate leaves
Small pink or purple flowers
Long beak like seed pods
Hairy stems and foliage

Height: 0.05 to 0.5m
Spread: 0.1 to 0.4m
Leaves: green, grey-green, deciduous
Flowers: pink, lavender, 0.5 to 1.5cm
Fruit: brown, Late spring to autumn

Problems to watch for

AphidsCommon
Powdery MildewCommon
Root RotUncommon
Slugs and SnailsUncommon

By symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: Plants that sprout in autumn usually survive winter as a frost hardy rosette of leaves and flower in spring. No special winter care is required as it typically reseeds itself.
In containers: It grows well in containers, provided the pot has excellent drainage and is at least 15 cm deep.

Seed

Collect mature seed pods when they turn brown.
Sow seeds directly into well drained soil in autumn or early spring.
Lightly cover with soil and keep moist until germination occurs.

Pair this plant with other low growing, sun loving wildflowers to create a resilient meadow patch.

Grows well with

California Poppy · They share similar requirements for sun and well drained soil.
Blue-eyed Grass · These plants grow well together in meadow style plantings.

Similar species

Musk Storksbill · It is a closely related species with a similar growth habit.

Science

Family: Geraniaceae
Genus: Erodium
Order: Geraniales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Mediterranean region and parts of Eurasia.
Conservation: It is considered a widespread, often invasive weed in many regions outside its native range.

This plant thrives in open, sunny, and disturbed habitats where it can quickly outcompete other species for space.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: ground cover, pollinator garden, wildflower meadow

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 3/9
Nutrients: 4/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is it a weed?: Yes, it is often classified as a weed in lawns and gardens, though it provides value to pollinators.
Does it need much water?: No, it is quite drought tolerant once established.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Erodium comes from the Greek word erodios, meaning heron, because the fruit resembles a heron's bill. The species name cicutarium refers to the leaves' resemblance to those of the hemlock genus, Cicuta.

Good to know

It is commonly known as redstem filaree.
The name filaree comes from the Spanish word alfiler, meaning needle, referring to the long seed pods.
It is a highly successful colonizer of disturbed soils.
The plant is a member of the Geranium family.

Also in

Drought-tolerant plants

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.