Shepherd's Purse
Capsella bursa-pastoris
Shepherd's purse is a common annual weed of the mustard family named for its distinctive heart-shaped seed pods, found in gardens, fields, and roadsides worldwide.
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Low to moderate
- Difficulty
- Easy
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Overview
Shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) is a widespread annual or biennial weed in the mustard family, named for its triangular, heart-shaped seed pods that resemble a tiny purse. It is one of the most common weeds worldwide.
It forms a basal rosette and sends up a slender flowering stalk topped with small white flowers and the characteristic pods. It remains a familiar plant of gardens, fields, and roadsides.
How to identify it
The heart-shaped seed pods are the giveaway.
- Seed pods: Flat, triangular to heart-shaped pods arranged along the upper stem (its key feature)
- Basal leaves: Form a rosette, often deeply lobed and dandelion-like
- Stem leaves: Smaller, arrow-shaped, clasping the stem
- Flowers: Tiny, white, four-petaled, in elongating clusters
- Size: Typically 6-18 inches tall
Care & growing
An easy, self-sufficient weed.
- Light: Full sun to partial shade
- Water: Tolerates dry to moderate moisture
- Soil: Grows in nearly any soil, especially disturbed ground
- Temperature: Cool-season grower; can germinate and flower over much of the year in mild climates
- Propagation: Self-seeds prolifically; seeds are long-lived in soil
- Control: Pull or hoe before seed set; persistent due to abundant seed
Habitat & origin
Believed native to eastern Europe and Asia Minor, shepherd's purse has naturalized virtually worldwide and is now one of the most common weeds on Earth.
It grows in gardens, croplands, lawns, roadsides, and waste areas, thriving in disturbed soils across temperate and subtropical climates.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called shepherd's purse?
The plant is named for its small, flat, heart- or triangular-shaped seed pods, which resemble the leather purses once carried by shepherds.
How do I identify shepherd's purse?
Look for a basal rosette of lobed leaves and a slender stalk bearing tiny white four-petaled flowers above distinctive flat, heart-shaped seed pods.
Where does shepherd's purse grow?
It is one of the most common weeds on Earth, thriving in disturbed soils in gardens, croplands, lawns, roadsides, and waste areas across temperate and subtropical climates.
How do I control shepherd's purse in the garden?
Pull or hoe the plants while young, before the heart-shaped pods mature, since each plant produces many long-lived seeds.
Shepherd's Purse guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Shepherd's Purse.
