"A weed is simply a plant that you don't know what to do with."
Author Unknown
When young, the leaves remind me of dandelions, with many notches. They grow in a flat rosette and can be irregular - the leaves on one plant might or might not resemble each other.
I marked the flower heads in this photo, just to show that they are the same plant. Shepherd's purse grows in waste places and poor soil, in lawns, and as you can see here, between the bricks in our front path. The leaves are edible but should be used before the plant flowers.
Further up the flower stalk, the leaves are small and pointed.
The flowers give way to heart-shaped seed pods, which are also edible. I've tried them, they're rather tasteless but that's not a bad thing.
Shepherd's purse is part of the mustard family. You can add the leaves to spring salads or simmer them in soup; they can also be sautéed or steamed like other spring greens.
Shepherd's purse leaves are a good source of vitamin A, C, and K as well as iron and calcium, according to Wildman Steve Brill's website.
The plant is also used medicinally. Please note that its use is not recommended during pregnancy and it can interfere with certain medications, so do your homework before using it.
Remember, before using this or any other plant or herb, please research it fully.
You are responsible for your own health.
Other posts in this series:
Plantain
Woolly Mullein
Wild Onions
Echinacea
Yarrow
How to Harvest Yarrow
Pokeweed
Lambsquarters
Curly Dock
Vetch
DIY Herb Field Guide
My hope is to inspire you, and to encourage your homesteading plans and your dreams of a simple, self-reliant, God-dependent life. You can follow me at:
I love the information I am finding on your site about the wild edibles... I use many of them, but I didn't know how to identify this one... I do use this one already dried and bought... so it is fun to realize I have that in my yard. Thank you. I did pin this also. :)
ReplyDeleteLearning to identify "weeds" is certainly eye-opening, isn't it?! Thank you for stopping by, Joy, and for the Pin.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if it grows around here? I would love it if you would link up to Garden Tuesday today at Sidewalk Shoes!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea. I'll bet many of us are surrounded by things we didn't know we could eat! ;0)
ReplyDeleteI think you're right, Daisy!
ReplyDeleteI loved learning about this plant. I too wonder if I can find it growing where I live. Your blog is very informative.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lilly's Mom. This is the time to identify shepherd's purse easily, when the tall flower stalks are easy to find and the heart-shaped seed pods are distinctive. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThis is very helpful! I have never foraged for this plant before, time to take a walk outside! Thank you for sharing this informative post on the Art of Home-Making Mondays :)
ReplyDeleteThis is very helpful! I have never foraged for this plant before, time to take a walk outside! Thank you for sharing this informative post on the Art of Home-Making Mondays :)
ReplyDeleteThis is the time to go out and find it, Jes. Those flower stalks and heart-shaped seed pods are easy to find right now as well as easy to identify. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your wisdom and this information with us at Good Morning Mondays. Blessings
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing information about this plant , also nice flower with good qualities.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Ajay. I'm glad it was helpful to you.
ReplyDeleteI think this grows in one of the clearing in our woods. I'll be looking for it this summer! Thanks for the information.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up with Green Thumb Thursday! I hope you'll join us again this week!
~Lisa