Flower profile

Mediterranean stork's-bill

Erodium botrys

Mediterranean stork's-bill (Erodium botrys) is a flowering plant in the Geraniaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly March–May across the U.S.

Not native to California

Mediterranean stork's-bill is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. In California it's most often seen in bloom in March–May.

6states where USDA records it

13,447CA sightings*

13,473U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: California

Quick look

Erodium botrys is a species of flowering plant in the geranium family known by the common names longbeak stork's bill, Mediterranean stork's-bill and broadleaf filaree.
From Wikipedia's article Erodium botrys, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Geraniaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual, biennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 6 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as not native to California. ^NatureServe
In California, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–May. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as early spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 0.8 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 13,447 research-grade sightings of it in California, ranking #60 among the 178 flowers on our California list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In California, most flowering sightings come in March–May.

Flowering records by month in California (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (7,306 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. ^NatureServe
California: Not listed Not on California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in California. ^{CNDDB listed plants (July 2026)}
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records mediterranean stork's-bill in 6 states.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

California, Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon, Texas, Vermont.

California counties with USDA records: Alameda, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Kern, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Plumas, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Shasta, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yolo.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Mediterranean stork's-bill a high shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.6 to 7.6 and winter lows down to 17 °F.

Shade tolerance: High
Drought tolerance: High
Moisture use: Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to: medium, fine
Soil pH range: 5.6 to 7.6
Minimum temperature tolerated: 17 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 240
Annual precipitation range: 12 to 24 inches
Minimum root depth: 12 inches
Salinity tolerance: Low
Fertility requirement: Medium
Growth rate: Rapid
Active growth period: Fall, Winter and Spring
Fruit or seed: Brown · Spring to Spring
Can be propagated by: seed
Commercial availability: No Known Source

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for ERBO. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 49 counties across 4 states; the most are in California (41), Oregon (4), Massachusetts (3).

Other Erodium on Bloomipedia (2): Redstem stork's-bill, Musk stork's-bill.

More from the Geraniaceae family (11 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Wild geranium, Herb robert, Carolina crane's-bill, Dove's-foot crane's-bill, Richardson's geranium, Sticky geranium, Pinewoods geranium, Shining crane's-bill.

More California flowers

Redstem stork's-bill

Erodium cicutarium

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in CA: February–May

Musk stork's-bill

Erodium moschatum

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in CA: February–May

California poppy

Eschscholzia californica

★ CA state flowerNative

🌼 Blooms in CA: March–May

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile ERBO.
iNaturalist, Erodium botrys: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Erodium botrys (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
California: California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026).
California: California noxious weed species (3 CCR § 4500).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Erodium botrys (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Justin via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.