Key identifying traits
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A slender, erect plant growing
3-18” tall
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Basal
leaves are deeply lobed while upper leaves are alternate &
lance-shaped & clasp the stem
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4-petaled flowers are white,
very small & located at the end of elongated racemes
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Seed pods are heart shaped &
2-celled containing many seeds; they are attached to the stem by
a long pedicel
Biology and ecology
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An annual or winter annual plant
spreading by seeds
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Plants flower early in the
spring and can produce seed into September
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Shepherd’s-purse is a native of
Europe but is now well established in the U.S. and Canada
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Commonly found in cultivated
fields, gardens, waste areas, pastures and road sides
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Usually not considered
aggressive but has been found to be a nuisance in fields and
pastures if it is left alone, and can be a problem in grain
crops
Control
Prevention –
Learn to identify plants; start monitoring and planning for early
season control
Biological –
No known biological control in our area
Cultural –
Plant competitive grass or other cover crop with certified weed free
seed
Mechanical –
Tilling and mowing can be effective if done before flowering occurs.
Chemical – Mustards are
resistant to many herbicides but dicamba or metsulfuron can achieve
good control: the
PNW Weed Management handbook has some limited information on
controlling mustards
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