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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
How often to water your Shepherd's Purse

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.
Water 0.5 cups every
9
Finding light for Mother's Heart in your home

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 🏡.
How to fertilize Shepherd's Purse

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.
Care Summary for Shepherd's Purse
Shepherd's Purse
Greg recommends:

0.5 cups every 9 days

< 1ft from a window

Repot after 2x growth
Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.
