Native Plants

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Flaigg, Norman G.

Lepidium virginicum

Lepidium virginicum L.

Virginia Peppergrass, Virginia Pepperweed, Peppergrass, Poor Man's Pepper

Brassicaceae (Mustard Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: LEVI3

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (I?), HI (I), PR (N), VI (I), CAN (NI)

Tiny white flowers with 4 petals and only 2 stamens, arranged in elongated clusters.

This prolific weed is one of the most common pepperweeds. The hairy Field Pepperweed (L. campestre) has six stamens, leaves that clasp the stem, and fruiting pods longer than broad. Clasping Pepperweed (L. perfoliatum) is a striking species with minute yellow flowers, basal and lower leaves that are finely cut and fern-like, and circular upper leaves that wrap around the stem.

From the Image Gallery

10 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Leaf Shape: Obovate
Leaf Margin: Lobed
Fruit Type: Silicle
Size Notes: Up to about 2 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov

Distribution

USA: AK , AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , HI , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY
Canada: BC , ON
Native Distribution: Throughout much of North America, except Prairie Provinces and parts of far north.
Native Habitat: Waste places and roadsides.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Edible Native Plants for a Small Austin Garden
March 15, 2010
Hello Mr. Smarty Plants (or Mrs. or Miss, whomever is answering this go'round)! First off, thank you so much for all the help you have given me in the past. Secondly, the company my husband works ...
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National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	UPL	UPL	FACU	FACU	FACU	FACU	UPL	FACU	FACU	FACU

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Fredericksburg Nature Center - Fredericksburg, TX
Pineywoods Native Plant Center - Nacogdoches, TX
Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX
Patsy Glenn Refuge, c/o Wimberley Birding Society - Wimberley, TX
National Butterfly Center - Mission, TX

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-0106 Collected 2007-06-04 in Travis County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

1 collection(s) available in the Wildflower Center Seed Bank

Bibliography

Bibref 286 - Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

From the Archive

Wildflower Newsletter 1994 VOL. 11, NO.6 - Wildflower Center Featured Non-Profit in Neiman Marcus Christmas Book, Dana Leav...

Additional resources

USDA: Find Lepidium virginicum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Lepidium virginicum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Lepidium virginicum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-16
Research By: TWC Staff

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