Lepidium draba
heart-podded hoary cress
Overview
Lepidium draba is a rhizomatous perennial in the mustard family, 1-2 feet (30-60 cm) tall, spreading widely by deep, creeping roots to form dense patches. The gray-green, finely hairy leaves are lance-shaped to oblong, 1-4 inches (2.5-10 cm) long, the upper ones clasping the stem with two pointed lobes. In late spring the stems are topped by broad, flat-topped clusters of many tiny white four-petaled flowers, creating a sheet of white over the foliage. The flowers give way to inflated, heart-shaped seed pods about 0.15 inch (3-4 mm) long on slender stalks. It spreads aggressively from both seed and root fragments, regrowing from rhizome pieces left in the soil, and is listed as a noxious weed across the western United States, Canada, and Australia. It grows in fields, roadsides, pastures, and disturbed ground on a wide range of soils. The foliage carries mustard-oil compounds that can sicken grazing livestock if eaten in quantity.
Native Range
Lepidium draba is native to Europe and western Asia. It has spread through much of North America, southern Australia, and other temperate regions as a weed of cultivated and disturbed land.Suggested Uses
It has no ornamental use and is managed as an invasive weed rather than planted. In its native range it occurs in grassland and field margins as part of the wild flora. Historically the seeds were ground as a pepper substitute, giving rise to the name pepperweed.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 2'
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs in late spring, mainly April to June, with masses of small white flowers opening together in broad heads. The bloom is brief but conspicuous across whole colonies. Heart-shaped seed pods ripen through early summer and shed large quantities of seed.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
gray-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight