Plant Care Shepherd's Purse

Shepherd's Purse

About Shepherd's Purse

Shepard's purse is a common winter annual garden weed in the mustard family. Winter annuals bloom from spring to mid-summer, while summer annuals flower from mid- summer to fall. The flowers are followed by flat, heart-shaped seedpods that are pointed at the end. The shape is said to resemble the leather purse of shepherds during the Middle Ages. Deer eat the leaves and stalks and the seeds that are eaten pass through the digestive tract and remain viable.

Taxonomy

Capsella bursa-pastoris
Capsella
Brassicaceae
Brassicales

Also known as

Mother's Heart, Mother's Heart and Shepherd's purse

How to care for Shepherd's Purse

💦 Water

How often to water your Shepherd's Purse

Water needs for Shepherd's Purse
0.5 cups
every 9

Shepherd's Purse 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.

Calculate water needs of Shepherd's Purse

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Mother's Heart in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Shepherd's Purse: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Shepherd's Purse love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Shepherd's Purse does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

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

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Shepherd's Purse

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Shepherd's Purse: 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 Purse after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Shepherd's Purse is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

Benefits of Growing Mother's Heart →

Common Mother's Heart Problems →


💦 Water Needs

Shepherd's Purse 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.

Mother's Heart Water Frequency →

Mother's Heart Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Shepherd's Purse requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Mother's Heart Light Requirements →

Mother's Heart Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Shepherd's Purse 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.

Is Mother's Heart Edible? →

Mother's Heart Toxicity to Cats →

Mother's Heart Toxicity to Dogs →

Mother's Heart Toxicity to Humans →


🪴 Soil

Shepherd's Purse does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Mother's Heart →

When and How to Successfully Repot Mother's Heart →

What Are Healthy Mother's Heart Roots →


💩 Fertilizer

Shepherd's Purse should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Mother's Heart →


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Shepherd's Purse grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

Mother's Heart Lifecycle →

Mother's Heart Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Mother's Heart →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Shepherd's Purse can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 4a-9b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Mother's Heart Temperature Tolerance →

Mother's Heart Hardiness Zones →

Is Mother's Heart a Weed? →


🌱 Propagation

The seeds of Shepherd's Purse can be used to grow new plants! After your plant flowers, any seeds that formed can be collected and germinated in potting soil.

How to Propagate Mother's Heart →


🍂 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 Purse, 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.


Care Summary for Shepherd's Purse

Shepherd's Purse

Shepherd's Purse


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

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