Shepherd’s Purse – Approx 50 Seeds

Shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) is a flowering plant belonging to the mustard family. Native to Asia and parts of Eastern Europe, shepherd’s purse is often used for culinary purposes, especially in Asian cuisine. It is characterized by the peppery, mustard flavor of its edible leaves. It is also often used in herbal medicine to treat circulatory problems, menstrual disorders, and other health conditions.

It 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”.

Common Names: Shepherd’s purse, pick pocket, pepper plant, case weed, pick purse, shepherd’s bag, shepherd’s pouch, mother’s heart, St. James weed, witches’ pouches, toothwort and shovel plant.

Growing Shepherd’s purse

Indoor Sowing: Not Recommended.

Direct Sowing: Summer and Autumn.

• Best if planted in direct sunlight and in any soil, even poor soil.
• Easily grown from seed, shepherd’s purse prefers drier soils once seedlings have been established.
• Sow seed in summer or autumn.
• To plant, direct sow by scattering 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.