Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Shepherd's Purse

Capsella bursa-pastoris

Typically in season from March to June in the northern hemisphere. Found in disturbed, grassland.

Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)

Photo: Daniel Cahen · CC BY

When Shepherd's Purse is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak March to June. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in July

Where it grows

Shepherd's Purse is usually found in disturbed, grassland.

Take Shepherd's Purse into the field

Open Shepherd's Purse in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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Shepherd's Purse: common questions

When is Shepherd's Purse in season?

Shepherd's Purse is generally in season from March to June in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Shepherd's Purse grow?

Shepherd's Purse is usually found in disturbed, grassland.

Is Shepherd's Purse safe to forage?

Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits