Lepidium virginicum
Virginia pepperweed
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lepidium virginicum (Virginia pepperweed) is a native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by No sympatric species; geographically isolated.
Virginia pepperweed is a native annual herb found in various California habitats, typically growing in open areas and disturbed sites. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces small white flowers less than 3 millimeters wide in delicate elongated clusters. Growing with erect branching stems 15 to 55 centimeters tall, it develops multiple stems from its base with a somewhat open, spreading growth habit. Its leaves are distinctive, ranging from obovate or spoon-shaped to oblanceolate, with lower leaves often pinnately lobed or toothed while upper leaves tend to be narrower and more entire. The small round fruits are winged at the tip, each about 3 to 4 millimeters long and containing a single seed.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: No sympatric species; geographically isolated
Habitat and range
California counties: Los Angeles, Mono, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Tulare, Fresno, Plumas, San Francisco, San Joaquin, Orange, Kern, El Dorado, Calaveras, Nevada, Alpine, Sierra, Santa Barbara, Siskiyou, Santa Clara, Lassen, Marin, Humboldt, Ventura, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Amador, Modoc, Contra Costa, Sonoma, Shasta, Butte, Napa, Lake, Mendocino, Placer, Tuolumne, Inyo, Mariposa, Stanislaus
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 virginicum native to California?
Yes. Lepidium virginicum is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Lepidium virginicum grow?
Lepidium virginicum occurs in Los Angeles, Mono, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Tulare, Fresno, Plumas and other counties.
What plant family does Lepidium virginicum belong to?
Lepidium virginicum is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Lepidium.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Lepidium virginicum subsp. menziesii — Robinson's pepper-grass
- Lepidium virginicum subsp. virginicum
- Lepidium acutidens — Net pepper grass
- Lepidium appelianum — White-top
- Lepidium campestre — Cow cress
- Lepidium chalepense — Lens-podded hoary cress
- Lobularia maritima — Sweet alyssum
- Lobularia sp. — Sweet alyssum
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.