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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Lepidium is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower from May to June. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, insects. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Lepidium draba.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Young leaves and shoots - raw in salads or cooked as a potherb[2, 61, 105, 183]. A report says that the young leaves contain the toxin hydrogen cyanide, though does not give any more details[240]. In small quantities this substance is fairly harmless, and has even been recommended as having health benefits, but caution is suggested if you eat these leaves[K]. The pungent leaves are used as a seasoning[183]. The seed is used as a condiment, it is a pepper substitute[2, 17, 61, 74, 148, 183].

References More on Edible Uses

Composition

Figures in grams (g) or miligrams (mg) per 100g of food.

Leaves (Fresh weight)

0 Calories per 100g
Water : 82.3%
Protein: 5.8g; Fat: 1g; Carbohydrate: 8.7g; Fibre: 0g; Ash: 0g;
Minerals - Calcium: 0mg; Phosphorus: 0mg; Iron: 28.6mg; Magnesium: 0mg; Sodium: 0mg; Potassium: 0mg; Zinc: 0mg;
Vitamins - A: 2970mg; Thiamine (B1): 0.11mg; Riboflavin (B2): 0.17mg; Niacin: 1mg; B6: 0mg; C: 87mg;
Reference: [ 240]
Notes:

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

The plant is antiscorbutic[240]. The seeds have been used as a cure for flatulence and fish poison[240]. It is assumed that this report is referring to food poisoning caused by eating suspect fish[K].

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in a sunny position in most soils.

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Celsius Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow in situ in spring. There is very little need to encourage this plant, it is a rapidly spreading weed in Britain. Division in spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Hoary cress, Srdasica, White weed, globed-podded hoarycress, peppergrass, whitetop, whiteweed.

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Cyprus, Egypt (Sinai), Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation (Dagestan), Russian Federation (Altay, Irkutsk, Kurganskaja oblast, Omsk), Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, China (Liaoning Sheng, Shandong Sheng, Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu) TROPICAL ASIA: Pakistan EUROPE: Austria, Russian Federation (European part), Moldova, Ukraine (incl. Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece (incl. Crete), Croatia, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain (incl. Baleares), France (incl. Corsica) AFRICA: Egypt

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so itâ€™s worth checking.

Noxious Weed Information. In the US it is a noxious weed in the following areas: Alaska (whitetop) Noxious weed. Arizona (globe-podded hoary cress) Prohibited noxious weed. (globe-podded hoary cress, whitetop) Restricted noxious weed. California (lens podded hoarycress) B list (noxious weeds). Colorado (hoary cress) B list (noxious weeds). Idaho (hoary cress) Noxious weed. Iowa (perennial pepper-grass) Primary noxious weed. Kansas (hoary cress) Noxious weed. Montana (whitetop, hoary cress) Category 1 noxious weed. Nevada (whitetop, hoary cress) Noxious weed. New Mexico (hoary cress) Class A noxious weed. Oregon (whitetop, hoary cress) "B" designated weed (whitetop, hoary cress) Quarantine. South Dakota (hoary cress) Noxious weed (hoary cress) Regulated non-native plant species. Utah (hoary cress) Noxious weed. Washington (hoary cress) Class C noxious weed. Wyoming (hoary cress, whitetop) Noxious weed. A weed in much of south-east and south-west Australia

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Lepidium apetalum		Annual/Biennial	0.3	-		LMH	SN	M	2	2
Lepidium campestre	Pepperwort, Field pepperweed	Annual/Biennial	0.6	0-0		LMH	SN	DM	2	0	0
Lepidium chilense			0.0	-		LMH	SN	M	1	0
Lepidium densiflorum	Common Pepperweed	Annual/Biennial	0.5	0-0		LMH	SN	DM	2	1	0
Lepidium diffusum			0.0	-		LMH	SN	M	2	0
Lepidium fremontii	Desert Pepperweed	Perennial	0.5	-		LMH	SN	DM	2	0
Lepidium graminifolium	Grassleaf pepperweed	Perennial	0.1	0-0		LMH	SN	DM	2	0
Lepidium hyssopifolium	Hyssopleaf pepperweed	Annual/Biennial	0.0	0-0		LMH	SN	M	1	0
Lepidium iberis		Annual	0.3	-		LMH	SN	M	1	1
Lepidium incisum		Annual	0.2	-		LMH	SN	M	1	0
Lepidium intermedium		Annual/Biennial	0.3	-		LMH	SN	M	2	0
Lepidium latifolium	Dittander, Broadleaved pepperweed	Perennial	1.2	5-9		LMH	SN	M	3	1	1
Lepidium meyenii	Maca	Perennial	0.1	0-0		LMH	SN	M	5	3	0
Lepidium nitidum	Shining Pepperweed, Howell's pepperweed	Annual	0.3	0-0		LMH	SN	M	2	0	2
Lepidium oleraceum		Perennial	0.0	-		LMH	SN	M	2	0
Lepidium perfoliatum	Clasping pepperweed	Annual/Biennial	0.3	0-0		LMH	SN	M	1	1	0
Lepidium rotundum	Veined Peppercress	Perennial	0.2	-		LMH	SN	M	2	0
Lepidium ruderale	Narrow Leaved Peppergrass, Rroadside pepperweed	Annual/Biennial	0.3	0-0		LMH	SN	M	2	1
Lepidium sativum	Cress, Gardencress pepperweed	Annual	0.5	6-9		LMH	SN	M	3	1	2
Lepidium spp.	Perennial Lepidium	Perennial	1.2	3-10	F	LMH	SN	M	5	3	2
Lepidium virginicum	Wild Pepper Grass, Virginia pepperweed, Intermediate pepperweed, Menzies' pepperweed, Hairy pepperwe	Annual/Biennial	0.5	0-0		LMH	SN	M	2	2	0

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Lepidium - (L.)Desv.