Seasonal Wild Flowers

Shepherd's-purse

Capsella bursa-pastoris

Brassicaceae

All year, including January.

It is found throughout the country.

See the BSBI distribution map for Shepherd's-purse

It is regarded as a weed and is found pretty well

everywhere there is nutrient-rich, disturbed bare soil,

such as, waste ground, gardens and cultivated fields.

Its seeds survive for long periods in the soil and this

contributes to making Shepherd's-purse a highly

competitive ruderal (able to rapidly colonise bare soils).

Shepherd's-purse is a native, annual, herb growing

up to 25cm.

It has small white flowers (2-3mm), each with 4 petals.

The pods are flat and triangular.

Stem leaves are wavy edged and clasp the stem.

Lower leaves are usually in a basal rosette and are

pinnately lobed..

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Flowers

Nascent fruits

Iconic shepherd's purses

Upper leaves

Lower leaves