ExplorePlants

shepherd's-purse

Capsella bursa-pastoris

Shepherd's purse is a small plant with heart-shaped seed pods. It grows in many places and is often found in gardens and fields. This plant is fun to spot because of its unique shape!

Habitat: Urban areas

Appearance

The shepherd's-purse has a rosette of deeply lobed leaves at its base and a slender stem. Tiny white, four-petaled flowers appear at the top, followed by distinctive, triangular, heart-shaped seed pods.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderBrassicalesFamilyBrassicaceaeGenusCapsella
shepherd's-purse
aromatic trait badgeflowering trait badgebiennial trait badgemedicinal trait badge
shepherd's-purse

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

13

Interesting facts

Wow! Its seeds can survive buried in soil for more than 30 years before sprouting.

Wow! Shepherd's purse can complete its entire life cycle in just six weeks!

Wow! This amazing plant grows on every single continent, except for Antarctica!

Wow! Young shepherd's purse leaves taste a bit like spicy mustard or peppery rocket!

Special abilities

Ability

Seed Superpower

shepherd's-purse can produce thousands of long-lived seeds that stay viable in soil for decades, ensuring future generations.

Ability

Global Explorer

shepherd's-purse can thrive in very diverse soil types and climates, allowing it to grow almost anywhere on Earth.

Ability

Sticky Traveler

shepherd's-purse has seeds that become sticky when wet, helping them cling to animals or shoes for travel.

Measurements & details

Height
5-50 cm
Spread
5-20 cm
Flower Size
0.2-0.4 cm
Bloom Season
Year-round in mild climates, otherwise spring to fall
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Annual
Pollination Method
Self

Ecological connections

pollinates

Honey bee

Apis mellifera

visits flowers for nectar

eats

Small White butterfly

Pieris rapae

larvae munch on its leaves

eats

House sparrow

Passer domesticus

forages on its seeds

Traits

Also known as

NasturtiumWatercresses

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always ask an adult before touching or eating any plants.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify shepherd's-purse?

The easiest way to identify shepherd's-purse is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

How tall is shepherd's-purse?

5-50 cm

How wide does shepherd's-purse spread?

5-20 cm

How big are the flowers on shepherd's-purse?

0.2-0.4 cm

When does shepherd's-purse bloom?

Year-round in mild climates, otherwise spring to fall

Is shepherd's-purse edible?

Yes

Is shepherd's-purse toxic?

None

What is shepherd's-purse's lifecycle?

Annual

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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