All plants /Ground /Shepherd's Purse
Shepherd's Purse
Capsella bursa-pastoris, mustard family. Common in East and Central Texas.
At a glance
- What
- Young rosette leaves; heart-shaped pods
- How
- Young leaves raw or cooked
- When
- Cool season
- Where
- Gardens, lots, roadsides
- Value
- A peppery mustard green
Caution: A safe common mustard; eat the young leaves before the plant turns tough and bitter. Never eat a wild plant on this guide's word alone. Confirm identity against several sources and learn the look-alikes first.
Identification
Named for its distinctive little heart- or purse-shaped seed pods marching up the stem. The basal leaves resemble a small dandelion.
In the kitchen
Young leaves are a peppery green raw or lightly cooked; the plant is a prized potherb across the world.
Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Forages well with
Forage safely. Never eat a wild plant on this site's word alone. Confirm identity with several sources, learn the look-alikes, and when in doubt, leave it in the ground.