![Shepherds purse plant (Capsella bursa-pastoris) showing the leaves of a young plant, a plant in flower and an uprooted flowering plant](./Images/Spices/shepherds-purse.png" width="500" height="516" alt="shepherds purse plant (Capsella bursa-pastoris) showing the leaves of a young plant, a plant in flower and an uprooted flowering plant"</div>)
The image, above, shows the Shepherd's Purse plant (Capsellabursa-pastoris), as a young rosette showing the leaves, top
left, whilst in flower, bottom left. Also shown is the whole
plant dug up with root and leaf, right..
| Common Name: Shepherd's Purse |
| Scientific Name: Capsella bursa-pastoris |
| Other Names: |
| Family: Cruciferae |
| Range: A virtually cosmopolitan plant, found in most regions of the world including Britain. |
Physical Characteristics
Capsella bursa-pastoris is a hardy Annual plant, growing to 30cm (1 ft) by 10cm (4 in) in size. It is hardy to zone 4 and is not frost tender. The plant flowers year round and seeds ripen year round. The flowers are hermaphrodite and are self-pollinated. This plant is noted for attracting wildlife.
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| Edible Parts: Leaves, Seeds, Seed Pods, Roots |
 Edibility Rating: 3 
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 Known Hazards: The plant has sedative qualities and signs of toxicity include sedation, pupil dilation and breathing difficulty. The plant should be avoided if on treatments for hypertension. Also avoid with thyroid gland disorders or cardiac disease. There sedative effects may be enhanced in conjunction with depressants such as alcohol. Do not consume this plant during pregnancy.
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Welcome to the summary page for FabulousFusionFood's Wild Food guide to Shepherd's Purse along with all the Shepherd's Purse containing recipes presented on this site, with 3 recipes in total.
These recipes, all contain Shepherd's Purse as a major wild food ingredient.
Shepherd's Purse, Capsella bursa-pastoris is an European native, though it has been introduced to much of the world. It is a member of the Brassicaceae (mustard) family and can be found in any recently disturbed ground, such as gardens, lots, fields, waste grounds, and embankments. It tends to form a ground-hugging rosette usually some 6 to 20cm tall. The basal leaves are lanceolate and dentate and the flowers, borne on long stems, are arranged in loose racemes. Apart from the leaves the plant is most distinguishable from its seed capsule which is flat and heart-shaped. Indeed, the seeds, leaves, and root of this plant are edible and in China and Japan it is commercially grown for consumption of the greens. In Korea it is grown as a root vegetable.
The leaves themselves taste exactly like watercress and are a wonderful addition to and spring salad. Any part of the plant can also be stir-fried if desired. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. Before the plant comes into flower the young leaves make a delicious addition to salad. The leaves from older plants can be cooked as a cabbage substitute. The leaves can also be dried for later use.
The young flowering shoots can be eaten raw or cooked. They are slightly fiddly to handle, but the taste is more than acceptable. The seed is also edible, raw or cooked. When dried it can be ground into a meal and used as an addition to soups and stews. However, the seeds are very small and are fiddly to harvest in quantity. An edible oil can be produced from pressed seed. In the past, the seeds have been used as a pepper substitute.
Like many members of the Brassicaceae the seed pods of the plant have a peppery flavour and can be used as a seasoning for soups and stews. The fresh or dried root can be grated or ground and used as a ginger substitute.
[2]. Huxley, A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1999
[3]. Tanaka, T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World.
[4]. Lim T.K. Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants, Vols 1–12.
[5]. Thomas, G. S. Perennial Garden Plants, 2004
[6]. Milner, E. Trees of Britain and Ireland, 2011
[7]. Rose, F. & O'Reilly, C. The Wild Flower Key (Revised Edition) — How to identify wild plants, trees and shrubs in Britain and Ireland, 2006
[8]. Streeter, D. & Garrard, I. The Wild Flowers of the British Isles, 1983
[9]. Clapham, A.R.; Tutin, T.G. & Moore, D.M. Flora of the British Isles, 1987
[10]. Phillips, R. Mushrooms, 2006
[11]. Jordan, P. & Wheeler, S. The Complete Book of Mushrooms: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Edible Mushrooms, 2011
[12]. Bunker, F. Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland, Second Edition, 2017
[13]. Facciola, S. Cornucopia II — A Source Book of Edible Plants, 1998
[14]. Hartford, R. Edible and Medicinal Wild Plants of Britain and Ireland: A Foraging and Photographic Identification Guide
(Note that the above book links are Amazon Affiliate links)
These recipes, all contain Shepherd's Purse as a major wild food ingredient.
Shepherd's Purse, Capsella bursa-pastoris is an European native, though it has been introduced to much of the world. It is a member of the Brassicaceae (mustard) family and can be found in any recently disturbed ground, such as gardens, lots, fields, waste grounds, and embankments. It tends to form a ground-hugging rosette usually some 6 to 20cm tall. The basal leaves are lanceolate and dentate and the flowers, borne on long stems, are arranged in loose racemes. Apart from the leaves the plant is most distinguishable from its seed capsule which is flat and heart-shaped. Indeed, the seeds, leaves, and root of this plant are edible and in China and Japan it is commercially grown for consumption of the greens. In Korea it is grown as a root vegetable.
The leaves themselves taste exactly like watercress and are a wonderful addition to and spring salad. Any part of the plant can also be stir-fried if desired. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. Before the plant comes into flower the young leaves make a delicious addition to salad. The leaves from older plants can be cooked as a cabbage substitute. The leaves can also be dried for later use.
The young flowering shoots can be eaten raw or cooked. They are slightly fiddly to handle, but the taste is more than acceptable. The seed is also edible, raw or cooked. When dried it can be ground into a meal and used as an addition to soups and stews. However, the seeds are very small and are fiddly to harvest in quantity. An edible oil can be produced from pressed seed. In the past, the seeds have been used as a pepper substitute.
Like many members of the Brassicaceae the seed pods of the plant have a peppery flavour and can be used as a seasoning for soups and stews. The fresh or dried root can be grated or ground and used as a ginger substitute.
References:
[1]. David Evans Notes from field observations, tastings and cookery experiments.[2]. Huxley, A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1999
[3]. Tanaka, T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World.
[4]. Lim T.K. Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants, Vols 1–12.
[5]. Thomas, G. S. Perennial Garden Plants, 2004
[6]. Milner, E. Trees of Britain and Ireland, 2011
[7]. Rose, F. & O'Reilly, C. The Wild Flower Key (Revised Edition) — How to identify wild plants, trees and shrubs in Britain and Ireland, 2006
[8]. Streeter, D. & Garrard, I. The Wild Flowers of the British Isles, 1983
[9]. Clapham, A.R.; Tutin, T.G. & Moore, D.M. Flora of the British Isles, 1987
[10]. Phillips, R. Mushrooms, 2006
[11]. Jordan, P. & Wheeler, S. The Complete Book of Mushrooms: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Edible Mushrooms, 2011
[12]. Bunker, F. Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland, Second Edition, 2017
[13]. Facciola, S. Cornucopia II — A Source Book of Edible Plants, 1998
[14]. Hartford, R. Edible and Medicinal Wild Plants of Britain and Ireland: A Foraging and Photographic Identification Guide
(Note that the above book links are Amazon Affiliate links)
The alphabetical list of all Shepherd's Purse recipes on this site follows, (limited to 100 recipes per page). There are 3 recipes in total:
Page 1 of 1
| A Messe of Greens Origin: Britain | Naengi-guk (Shepherd's Purse Soup) Origin: Korea | Nanakusa-gayu (Seven Herb Congee) Origin: Japan |
Page 1 of 1