Lepidium pinnatifidum
Featherleaf pepperweed
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Lepidium pinnatifidum (Featherleaf pepperweed) is a non-native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by small wingless fruits, tiny linear petals.
Featherleaf pepperweed is a naturalized annual found in coastal California regions including the central and southern coast, typically growing in disturbed areas at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces small white flowers on elongated panicles with delicate linear petals. Growing with erect, many-branched stems 20 to 60 centimeters tall that are puberulent, it develops distinctive foliage with basal leaves that are dentate to pinnately lobed and quickly deciduous. Its mid-stem leaves are narrowly oblanceolate to linear, 1 to 3.3 centimeters long, with entire edges and tapered bases. The small round fruits are 1.8 to 2 millimeters wide, with sparsely soft-hairy valves and a subtle notch at the tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 15 sympatric species; key features are small wingless fruits, tiny linear petals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 200 m
California counties: Fresno, Los Angeles, Monterey, Orange, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, Butte, Marin, Merced, San Mateo, Kings, Tulare, San Benito, Yolo, Glenn, Santa Clara, Imperial, Madera, San Joaquin, San Diego, Alameda, Contra Costa, Siskiyou, Santa Cruz
Outside California: native to Europe, southwestern Asia
Bloom period
Lepidium pinnatifidum 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 pinnatifidum native to California?
No. Lepidium pinnatifidum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Lepidium pinnatifidum bloom?
Lepidium pinnatifidum blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Lepidium pinnatifidum grow?
Lepidium pinnatifidum occurs in Fresno, Los Angeles, Monterey, Orange, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Francisco and other counties, at elevations of < 200 m.
What plant family does Lepidium pinnatifidum belong to?
Lepidium pinnatifidum is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Lepidium.
What habitat does Lepidium pinnatifidum grow in?
Lepidium pinnatifidum grows in Disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.