Common Stork's-bill
Erodium cicutarium · Geraniaceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant common stork's-bill: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Erodium cicutarium
- Family
- Geraniaceae
- Type
- Annual or biennial herbaceous plant
- Flowering
- April to July
- Flowers
- Pale pink to violet, small and grouped
- Adult size
- 15 to 40 cm in height
- Foliage
- Deciduous, very finely cut and delicately toothed
- Hardiness
- Low hardiness, prefers temperate climates
- Origin
- Mediterranean basin and Western Asia
Care
Light Exposure
Place your stork's bill in a sunny location to encourage generous flowering. Partial shade also suits it well, especially in very hot regions. Avoid complete shade which limits flower formation.
Watering
Water moderately during growth, keeping the soil slightly moist without creating waterlogging. Reduce watering once established, as this plant tolerates drought well. In summer, occasional watering is generally sufficient.
Soil
Choose well-draining soil, even if chalky or poor. This plant adapts well to dry and rocky soils. Effective drainage is essential to prevent root rot in winter or after heavy rain.
Fertilizing
Fertilizer is not necessary on soil of average quality. If you grow it in a pot or very depleted soil, light fertilization in spring is enough. Avoid excess nitrogen which would favor foliage at the expense of flowers.
Pruning and Maintenance
Remove faded flowers regularly to extend flowering. Light pruning in spring helps maintain a compact shape. This plant often self-seeds, so you can let some flowers go to seed according to your needs.
Diseases and Pests
Stork's bill is generally robust and rarely prone to diseases. Monitor excess humidity which could promote root rot or fungal diseases. Aphids may occasionally colonize it, but a simple water rinse is often enough to eliminate them.
Did you know?
The name "stork's bill" comes from the very distinctive shape of its ripe fruit, which resembles a long pointed beak. These fruits possess a remarkable natural mechanism: the spiral awns contract and relax according to humidity, propelling seeds over distance and facilitating their dispersal. This ingenious adaptation has fascinated botanists since antiquity.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Meadow geraniumGeranium pratense
- Bloody Crane's-billGeranium sanguineum
- Rock crane's-billGeranium macrorrhizum
- French crane's-billGeranium endressii
- Purple-vein geraniumGeranium wallichianum
- Himalayan crane's-billGeranium himalayense
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.