"Natural Healing with Herbs for a Healthier You"
“The slender stem, which rises from the crown of the root, from the centre of the rosette of radical leaves, is usually sparingly branched. It is smooth, except at the lower part, and bears a few, small, oblong leaves, arrow-shaped at the base, and above them, numerous small, white, inconspicuous flowers, which are self-fertilized and followed by wedge-shaped fruit pods, divided by narrow partitions into two cells, which contain numerous oblong yellow seeds. When ripe, the pod separates into its two boat-shaped valves. The odour of the plant is peculiar and rather unpleasant, though more cress-like than pungent. It has an aromatic and biting taste, but is less acrid than most of the Cruciferae . . .” family.
Kloss tells us that Shepherd’s Purse can be found in wheatfields and throughout the United States. Brown adds that it can be found in waste ground, disturbed soil and also in Canada. Moore continues the list with vacant lots, suburbs, pastures, grazing pastures and city parks even as far north as central Alaska. And lastly, Grieve mentions that it can be found all over the world outside of the tropics and that it is abundant in Britain, flowering all year round!
Regarding controlling the plant, Deb Schwartz mentioned that mulching will help to prevent more plants from growing, “. . . as the seeds remain dormant in the dark.”
Shepherd’s Purse is best if harvested from 7 A.M. to 5 P.M., making sure there is no dew or moisture on the plant. And it is best harvested from the months of April through September. Usually, Shepherd’s Purse has not sprouted before April, and will have died down and become dry sometimes as early as August. In some climates, it can be found growing year round. When it is dried out, most of the medicinal and nutritional qualities of the plant will have been pulled out by the sun’s drawing power or will have gone down into the roots. The whole plant is usually used for tinctures, etc., and the leaves and flowers for infusions.
