Shepherd's Cress
ExplorePlants
Shepherd's Cress
Teesdalia nudicaulis
Shepherd's Cress is a small, delicate plant with tiny white flowers. It often grows in grassy areas and is loved by little bugs and insects.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Shepherd's Cress has a flat rosette of deeply lobed leaves at its base and slender stems. It produces tiny white flowers with four petals, often with two slightly larger than the others, making it distinct from many other small white flowers.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderBrassicalesFamilyBrassicaceaeGenusTeesdalia
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
1
Interesting facts
Its scientific name, *Teesdalia*, honors a forgotten British botanist!
Its seeds can wait years underground for perfect growing conditions!
Its unique flowers have two large and two small petals, very rare!
This plant thrives in dry, gravelly paths where others fail!
Special abilities
Ability
Speedy Seeder
Shepherd's Cress can quickly produce many seeds, helping it spread fast and colonize new, open areas.
Ability
Uneven Petals
Shepherd's Cress has unique flowers with two larger petals and two smaller ones, which might help guide tiny insect visitors.
Ability
Drought Defender
Shepherd's Cress can thrive in dry, sandy soils where many other plants struggle, thanks to its robust root system.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 5-20 cm
- Spread
- 5-10 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.2-0.4 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring-early summer
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
honey bee
Apis mellifera
collects nectar and pollen
eats
painted lady butterfly
Vanessa cardui
caterpillars feed on its leaves
eaten by
black slug
Arion ater
slugs graze on its tender leaves
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Grass-Like
Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves.
Spring Blooming
Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Miniature
Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind.
Urban Friendly
This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always check with an adult before touching or tasting any plants.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Shepherd's Cress?
The easiest way to identify Shepherd's Cress is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How tall is Shepherd's Cress?
5-20 cm
How wide does Shepherd's Cress spread?
5-10 cm
How big are the flowers on Shepherd's Cress?
0.2-0.4 cm
When does Shepherd's Cress bloom?
Spring-early summer
Is Shepherd's Cress edible?
Yes
Is Shepherd's Cress toxic?
None
What is Shepherd's Cress's lifecycle?
Annual
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
Loading map…
