Red Stem Filaree
Erodium cicutariumHeight: Typically 4 to 18 inches tall
Habitat: Roadsides, fields, open desert flats, and disturbed areas
Elevation: Found from low elevations up to about 6,500 feet
Range: Widespread across the southwestern United States and much of North America; originally native to the Mediterranean region
Description:
Red Stem Filaree is a low-growing annual or biennial wildflower with finely divided, fern-like leaves and reddish stems. Its small, five-petaled pink to purple flowers appear early in the season. After flowering, the seed heads form long, coiled structures that look like little corkscrews—designed to twist into the soil when moistened.
Uses:
Traditional: Native American tribes used young leaves as food (raw or cooked) and sometimes made medicinal teas.
Modern: Recognized as a forage plant for livestock and wildlife in dry rangelands.
Ecological: One of the first plants to sprout after rain, it provides early food for pollinators and ground dwellers.
Note:
Though it’s technically non-native, Red Stem Filaree has become a familiar part of the desert spring bloom. Tough, useful, and fast-growing, it’s a quiet contributor to desert life.
Erodium cicutarium
5 petaled flowers are pink or magenta; spreading plant is 2" to 10" in height with fernlike leaves.
