Share

Native Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Search native plant database:
Name:    
Family:    

Lepidium virginicum (Virginia peppergrass)
Flaigg, Norman G.

Lepidium virginicum L.

Virginia peppergrass, Virginia pepperweed, Peppergrass, Poor man's pepper

Brassicaceae (Mustard Family)

USDA Symbol: levi3

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

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

This prolific weed is one of the most common pepperweeds. Its seeds have a peppery taste and can be used to season soups and stews; the young leaves are used in salads or cooked as greens. 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

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Leaf Shape: Obovate
Leaf Margin: Lobed
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 0-1 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: 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.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), AK (I?), HI(I), PR(N), VI(I), CAN(NI)

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 ...
view the full question and answer

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Fredericksburg Nature Center - Fredericksburg, TX
Pineywoods Native Plant Center - Nacogdoches, TX
Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX
Patsy Glenn Refuge - 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

Bibliography

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

Search More Titles in Bibliography

From the Archive

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

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

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: 2010-03-14
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back