Field pennycress
Thlaspi arvense has round, winged pods and a garlic smell.
Use the botanical sourceCulinary reference
Shepherd's purse.
Capsella bursa-pastoris
Also found as Shepherd's bag
A tiny mustard of paths and gardens with heart-shaped seed pods and a peppery rosette.
Sources checked 27 September 2026 · Specialist field review pending
Before any gathering or use
Avoid in pregnancy in medicinal amounts.
Where it grows
Tracked records and known growing zone
- Verified records
- 68,609
- People who recorded it
- 25,534
- Most records (northern hemisphere)
- Mar–May
- Records span
- 1972–2026
| January | 2151 |
|---|---|
| February | 4020 |
| March | 7830 |
| April | 18498 |
| May | 14456 |
| June | 6785 |
| July | 3594 |
| August | 2393 |
| September | 1747 |
| October | 1833 |
| November | 1623 |
| December | 1481 |
Research-grade iNaturalist records, snapshot Aug 27, 2026. The growing zone combines areas where different people have repeatedly verified it. Records show where people looked and found it, not current abundance or permission to gather.
01 / Learn to see
Field marks
- 01
Basal rosette of lobed, dandelion-like leaves.
- 02
Tiny white four-petaled flowers on a thin stalk.
- 03
Flat, heart-shaped seed pods along the stem.
These are study prompts, not a complete identification key. Confirm the full plant with a regional flora and an experienced local identifier.
02 / Resolve the differences
Look closely. Compare.
Selected comparisons only. Other lookalikes may occur locally.
03 / Meet the place
Habitat & season
Range context
Nearly worldwide in disturbed ground.
Watch the plant stage
Leaves most of the year in mild climates.
Stage guidance is not a local forecast. Check your climate, elevation and a regional source; no month-shift formula is used here.
04 / Gather with care
Documented use & care
Parts discussed: Leaf · Seed pod
Eat young leaves raw or cooked; young pods add a peppery note.
Care for the patch
An abundant weed; harvest freely from clean ground.
Preparation & storage essentials05 / Follow the evidence
Sources & review
- Wikipedia · Capsella bursa-pastorisBotanical description, range and documented use
- iNaturalist · Capsella bursa-pastorisTaxonomy and verified observation records
Checked 27 September 2026. Original editorial synthesis; source institutions have not reviewed or endorsed this guide. Independent botanical field review is pending. Photos illustrate specimens; they do not certify the identity of a plant you find.
Suggest a correction