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Shepherd's Needle

Also known as

Shepherd's-needle, Venus' comb and Stork's needle

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Scandix pecten-veneris

Genus

Scandix

Family

Apiaceae

Order

Apiales

How to care for Shepherd's Needle

💦 Water

How often to water your Shepherd's Needle

Shepherd's Needle needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Shepherd's Needle in your home

Shepherd's Needle may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.

Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Shepherd's Needle in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Shepherd's Needle

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Shepherd's Needle: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Shepherd's Needle after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

Shepherd's Needle prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Shepherd's Needle is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Shepherd's Needle can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 6a-9b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Shepherd's Needle, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.