Part of the Brassicaceae family, Shepherd’s purse is characterized by the peppery, mustard flavor of its edible leaves. Capsella bursa-pastoris grows best if planted in aerated, loamy soil with direct sunlight. Aerial portions of this plant are used fresh or dried for a variety of herbal and culinary preparations.

Shepherd’s purse is a prolific herb easily identifiable by its rosette of basal and lobed leaves. It produces a single stalk up to two feet tall that branches at its top with many small, white flowers. The flowers can bloom at any point in the year, and they eventually form seed pods that resemble tiny satchels or “purses”.

Easily grown from seed, shepherd’s purse prefers drier soils once seedlings have been established. To plant, scatter seeds over prepared bed after the danger of frost has passed and tamp into soil. Young seedlings should emerge within 10 days and will grow vigorously.

This Herb Appears In
• Organic Shepherd’s Purse
• Organic Shepherd’s Purse Extract