Erodium Invasiveness

[Barbara Weintraub]

I've been checking out photos of erodiums in the NARGS gallery and on other websites. The flowers and foliage of some species are awfully pretty in a sweet sort of way. I'm loathe to try them, though, because of the invasive weediness of Erodium cicutarium.

What are others' thoughts and experience? Are some species well-behaved enough that they won't take over the western U.S.?

[Lori S.]

I've tried Erodium petraeum ssp. crispum and E. chrysanthum and, far from being invasive, I can't even get them to last more than 2 or 3 years. 

[Hoy]

The few small Erodiums I have tried were all shortlived and didn't self-sow at all.
E. manescavii is also shortlived but self-sow moderately.

[Carlo A. Balistrieri]

Barbara,

You're hearing from many places (which should help). Here in the northeast, I've had NO problems with the smaller erodiums. They aren't spreading rampantly, by seed or any other fashion. Their dense mounds sometimes have a problem with "melting out" and, as has been suggested, they are sometimes difficult to keep around long term.

I understand that your E. cicutarium is edible...I'd start throwing it salads. Before you know it, it will be hard for you to keep around too.

[Barbara Weintraub]

Hi Carlo! On your recommendation, I'll taste a leaf. some of the things that people eat are pretty disgusting, so we'll see. Except for whatever flows down my driveway, I think I'ver eradicated Erodium on my property!