Shepherd's Purse Plant Care

Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) belongs to the Brassicaceae family within the Capsella genus. Shepherd's Purse is also known as Shepherd's Purse Weed, Poor Man's Penny, Toy Bread and Cheese.

Shepherd's Purse displays a low rosette, spreading growth habit, reaching up to 0.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 0.8 ft. Shepherd's Purse produces small white flowers in dense clusters.

Leaf size: approximately 2 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Shepherd's Purse every 3–5 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Shepherd's Purse thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Capsella bursa-pastoris tolerates temperatures of 50–75°F. Shepherd's Purse prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.

Well-draining loamy soil with added compost for nutrients. Good drainage is essential for Shepherd's Purse to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Shepherd's Purse every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining loamy soil with added compost for nutrients. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Shepherd's Purse is suited to USDA Zone 12a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Shepherd's Purse can spread to about 1 ft (0.2 m) and reach about 1 ft (0 m) tall. Space plants about 1 ft (0.2 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Shepherd's Purse while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Shepherd's Purse is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Shepherd's Purse can be propagated through seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to slender shepherd's purse plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Shepherd's Purse is susceptible to aphids, cabbage worms, flea beetles. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Shepherd's Purse grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. In cooler regions, grow Shepherd's Purse as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.