Shepherd's-Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) is in the mustard family family (Brassicaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,086 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from February to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Shepherd's-Purse: observations by month (U.S.)
About Shepherd's-Purse
Capsella bursa-pastoris, known by its common name shepherd's purse because of its triangular flat fruits, which are purse-like, is a small (up to 0.5 m) annual and ruderal flowering plant in the mustard family Brassicaceae. It is native to eastern Europe and Asia minor, but is naturalized and considered a common weed in many parts of the world, especially in colder climates, including British Isles, where it is regarded as an archaeophyte, North America and China, but...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Shepherd's-Purse by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 334 | March | Jan–Mar |
| Texas | 249 | February | Dec–Mar |
| New York | 227 | April | Apr–May |
| Nebraska | 136 | April | Apr–May |
| New Jersey | 107 | April | Mar–May |
| Illinois | 74 | April | Apr–May |
| Minnesota | 72 | May | Apr–May |
| Oregon | 70 | April | Mar–May |
| Massachusetts | 66 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Washington | 54 | May | Feb–May |
| Utah | 51 | April | Mar–May |
| Vermont | 49 | May | May–May |
| Pennsylvania | 46 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Maryland | 44 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Mississippi | 39 | February | Feb–Mar |
| Colorado | 36 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Wisconsin | 34 | May | May–May |
| Michigan | 32 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Oklahoma | 31 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Kentucky | 30 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Alabama | 25 | February | Feb–Mar |
| Missouri | 23 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Virginia | 21 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Kansas | 19 | March | Mar–Apr |
| North Carolina | 16 | April | Apr–May |
| Ohio | 16 | April | Apr–May |
| Idaho | 13 | May | Apr–May |
| New Hampshire | 12 | May | May–Jun |
| Arizona | 11 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Connecticut | 11 | June | Apr–Jun |
| Indiana | 11 | April | Mar–May |
| Maine | 11 | June | May–Jun |
| Iowa | 10 | April | Apr–May |
| New Mexico | 10 | March | Jan–Mar |
| North Dakota | 10 | June | May–Jun |
| Alaska | 9 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Arkansas | 9 | February | Feb–May |
| Delaware | 9 | April | Mar–Apr |
| District of Columbia | 9 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Georgia | 9 | February | Feb–Mar |
| Montana | 9 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Nevada | 7 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Wyoming | 5 | June | Jun–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (mustard family)
Garlic Mustard
Dame's Rocket
Annual Honesty
Cut-Leaved Toothwort
Milkmaids
Hairy Bittercress
Western Wallflower
Wild radish
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Shepherd's-Purse?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from February to May.
Where is Shepherd's-Purse most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, New York.