Shepherd's Purse
Capsella bursa-pastoris
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Pl. 6C5F — Capsella bursa-pastoris
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IOverview
Overview
Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) is an annual forb or herb that thrives across a wide range of environments in Europe, Asia, and North Africa, including regions such as Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, and many others listed in the structured data. Native to these areas, it has spread due to its adaptability. This plant prefers full sun to partial shade and can grow in various soil types—light (sandy), medium, or heavy (clay)—and thrives in moist to dry conditions. It is hardy in zones 6-10 and typically reaches a height of about 0.3 meters. Shepherd's Purse is both ornamental and useful as a food source. Its distinctive feature includes seed pods that resemble small purses, giving it its common name. The plant’s edible parts include leaves, shoots, and seeds, making it valuable in culinary applications. Additionally, Shepherd's Purse has utility as a dynamic accumulator, helping to reclaim soil and control pests. While not medicinal according to the structured data, caution is advised when handling any plant for consumption or use, given its potential as a weed in some contexts.
Quick answers
What is Shepherd's Purse?
Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) is an annual forb or herb that thrives across a wide range of environments in Europe, Asia, and North Africa, including regions such as Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, and many others listed in the structured data.
Growingconditions · propagation · uses
VCultivation
Cultivation
Shepherd's Purse thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soil that can be light (sandy), medium, or heavy (clay). It is drought-tolerant but will grow better with regular moisture. This annual plant is hardy in zones 6-10 and reaches a height of about 0.3 meters. For best results, sow seeds directly into the garden soil in spring after all danger of frost has passed. Harvest leaves, shoots, and seeds for culinary use throughout the growing season.
Light
Full sun, Partial sun/shade
Water
Dry, Moist
Soil
Light (sandy), Medium, Heavy (clay)
Hardiness
6-10
Life cycle
Annual
Habit
Forb/herb
Mature size
0.3 m tall
For first-time growers
How to grow Shepherd's Purse for the first time
8steps
Shepherd's Purse is a hardy annual that thrives in most beginner-friendly conditions, making it an excellent choice for your first gardening project.
- 1
What you'll need
Seeds of Shepherd's Purse, small pots or direct planting area, and some basic tools like a trowel.
- 2
Best time to plant
Plant in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked, or sow directly after the last frost.
- 3
Soil and container prep
Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade. Ensure the soil is well-draining; amend if necessary with compost.
- 4
Sowing or transplanting
Direct sow seeds 0.5 cm deep, about 15-20 cm apart in rows. Alternatively, start indoors and transplant when seedlings have two true leaves.
- 5
First two weeks
Keep the soil moist until germination. Thin plants to 30 cm apart once they are established.
- 6
Ongoing care
Water regularly but avoid overwatering, especially in clay soils. Mulch around plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- 7
Harvest or pruning
Prune or harvest leaves and shoots as needed for use in salads or cooking; seeds can be collected when they turn brown.
- 8
Common mistakes
Overwatering, planting too deep, neglecting to thin seedlings, and not providing enough sunlight.
VIEdible & utility
Edible & utility
Edible parts:LeavesSeedShoots
Edible uses: Oil, Condiment
Other uses:Pest controloilSoil reclamationDynamic accumulator
Contextrange · companions · related
VIIDistribution
93 native · 146 introduced
Distribution
93 native · 146 introducedDistribution across4 continents· 93 native· 146 introduced
Europe28 regions
native (24)AlbaniaAustriaBelarusBelgiumBulgariaCyprusDenmarkFinlandFranceGermanyGreeceHungaryIcelandItalyNetherlandsNorwayPolandPortugalRomaniaRussiaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandUkraine
introduced (4)IrelandPortugalSpainUnited Kingdom
Asia24 regions
native (17)AfghanistanChinaIndiaIranIraqKazakhstanMongoliaNepalOmanPakistanPalestineSaudi ArabiaSouth KoreaTurkeyTurkmenistanUzbekistanYemen
introduced (7)BangladeshGeorgiaJapanPhilippinesSri LankaTaiwanVietnam
Americas15 regions
introduced (15)BoliviaColombiaCosta RicaCubaDominican RepublicEcuadorEl SalvadorGreenlandGuatemalaHaitiHondurasJamaicaPeruUnited StatesUruguay
Africa19 regions
native (5)AlgeriaEgyptLibyaMoroccoTunisia
introduced (14)AngolaBurundiDjiboutiEritreaEthiopiaKenyaLesothoMauritiusNamibiaRwandaSudanTanzaniaUgandaZimbabwe
Broader regions
native:Altay, Amur, Baltic States, Buryatiya, Chita, Czechoslovakia, East Aegean Is., East Himalaya, Føroyar, Gulf States, Irkutsk, Kamchatka, Khabarovsk, Kirgizstan, Krasnoyarsk, Kriti, Kuril Is., Lebanon-Syria, Magadan, Primorye, Sakhalin, Sinai, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Turkey-in-Europe, Tuva, West Himalaya, Yakutskiya, Yugoslavia
introduced:Alabama, Alberta, Aleutian Is., Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Argentina South, Arizona, Arkansas, Bermuda, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, British Columbia, California, Cape Provinces, Chile Central, Chile North, Chile South, Colorado, Connecticut, Crozet Is., Delaware, District of Columbia, Easter Is., Falkland Is., Florida, Free State, Galápagos, Gulf of Guinea Is., Hainan, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Jawa, Kansas, Kentucky, Kerguelen, KwaZulu-Natal, Labrador, Louisiana, Maine, Manitoba, Maryland, Masachusettes, Massachusetts, Mexican Pacific Is., Mexico Central, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southwest, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nansei-shoto, Nebraska, Nevada, New Brunswick, New Guinea, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New South Wales, New York, New Zealand North, Newfoundland, Norfolk Is., North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Provinces, Northern Territory, Northwest Territorie, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ogasawara-shoto, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Québec, Queensland, Réunion, Rhode I., Saskatchewan, Socotra, South Australia, South Carolina, South Dakota, South Georgia, St.Helena, Svalbard, Tasmania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Victoria, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Western Australia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yukon, Zaïre
IXSpecimen gallery
1 image
Specimen gallery
1 imageXI
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