Shepherd's-purse is an annual or winter annual (sometimes a biennial) plant with a thin taproot. The leaves are primarily in a basal rosette and may have smooth edges or be variously lobed or toothed. The leaves are somewhat hairy beneath. Flowers are borne on long upright stems rising from the rosette of leaves. Typically, some smaller leaves occur along the flower stalks, sometimes with branches in the leaf axils. The small, four-petalled, white flowers occur singly and begin blooming at the lower part of the stem first. Seed pods develop on 1/2-inch stalks and are heart-shaped to triangular. It is common for nearly mature seed pods and unopened flower buds to be present on the same stem (at the bottom and top of the stem, respectively).

Habitat

Shepherd's-purse is a weed of gardens, fields, waste areas, and similar cultivated or disturbed sites.

Management Options

Non-Chemical Management

Maintaining a healthy planting or turf area to provide competition will prevent weed establishment.
Cultivation (rototilling or hoeing) will effectively eliminate plants.
Reduce weed infestation by handpulling weeds.

Select non-chemical management options as your first choice!

Chemical Management

IMPORTANT: Visit Home and Garden Fact Sheets for more information on using pesticides

Apply according to label directions. Glyphosate and glufosinate products should be applied as spot treatments only! NOTE: Some ingredients listed here are only available in combination. Read the label carefully on combination products to make sure the product is suitable for your specific situation.

Landscape areas

glyphosate
dichlobenil
glufosinate
products containing diquat

Turf areas

products containing 2,4-D
products containing MCPA
products containing MCPP
triclopyr

Bare ground areas

glyphosate
products containing diquat
products containing 2,4-D
triclopyr

Images

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Caption: Shepherd's-purse Photo by: T.W. Miller
Caption: Shepherd's-purse flowers Photo by: D.G. Swan
Caption: Shepherd's-purse seed pod Photo by: R. Parker
Caption: Shepherd's-purse seedling Photo by: R. Parker
Caption: Shepherd's-purse in bloom Photo by: T.W. Miller
Caption: Shepherd's-purse flower closeup Photo by: T. W. Miller
Caption: Shepherd's-purse flowers and fruits Photo by: T. W. Miller
Caption: Shepherd's-purse rosette Photo by: T. W. Miller
Caption: Shepherd's-purse flower Photo by: T. W. Miller

WSU Extension

Hortsense