Lepidium heterophyllum
Purpleanther field pepperweed
(c) David Anderson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by David Anderson · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Lepidium heterophyllum (Purpleanther field pepperweed) is a non-native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by perennial habit, rosetted basal leaves, sagittate stem leaf bases.
Purpleanther field pepperweed is a naturalized perennial found in the Klamath Ranges and Cascade Range in fields, roadsides, and open slopes at elevations of 1,400 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces white flowers with distinctive purple stamens. Growing with erect to ascending stems 10 to 50 centimeters tall, often decumbent at the base and branching near the top, it has a stiff-hairy appearance. Its leaves form a basal rosette of oblanceolate or oblong-elliptic shapes, with mid-stem leaves that are oblong to lanceolate and sometimes sagittate or lobed at the base. The fruit is broadly oblong, 4 to 5.5 millimeters wide with a broadly winged tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species; key features are perennial habit, rosetted basal leaves, sagittate stem leaf bases
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Fields, roadsides, open slopes
Elevation: 1400-1500 m
California counties: Humboldt, Amador, Marin, Plumas, Lassen, Tehama, Trinity, Alameda
Outside California: to British Columbia, eastern North America, native to Europe
Bloom period
Lepidium heterophyllum blooms May-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Capsella: Small round-to-oval pods versus distinctive triangular heart-shaped pods.; vs Cotula: Mustard with seed pods and 4 petals versus composite with disk flowers only.; vs Soliva: Mustard with flattened seed pods versus composite with spiny achenes.; vs Thysanocarpus: Fruits stand upright or spread versus hanging downward in Thysanocarpus.; vs Lobularia: Flattened oval pods with 1-2 seeds versus inflated round pods with 2 seeds.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lepidium heterophyllum native to California?
No. Lepidium heterophyllum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Lepidium heterophyllum bloom?
Lepidium heterophyllum blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Lepidium heterophyllum grow?
Lepidium heterophyllum occurs in Humboldt, Amador, Marin, Plumas, Lassen, Tehama, Trinity, Alameda, at elevations of 1400-1500 m.
What plant family does Lepidium heterophyllum belong to?
Lepidium heterophyllum is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Lepidium.
What habitat does Lepidium heterophyllum grow in?
Lepidium heterophyllum grows in Uncommon. Fields, roadsides, open slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.