PlantFiles: Virginia Pepperweed, Pepper Grass, Poor Man's Pepper
Lepidium virginicum

As many have stated, it is a weed. The entire plant is generally between 5-20" tall. Plant is edible. This plant's most identifiable characteristic is its raceme, which comes from the plant's highly branched stem. The racemes give Virginia pepperweed the appearance of a bottlebrush. On the racemes are first small white flowers, and later greenish fruits. I noticed it growing in some compost we purchased and immediately yanked it as it is difficult to eradicate once established.

The leaves are a source of vitamines A and C, and iron.

This plant is very common along the Rocky Mountains, in un-disturbed areas such as road-sides, and gentle slopes. I've always called this plant 'pennycress'. Mature plants can have white blossoms on the tips, and can grow to about 1m(or roughly 3') in height. I've known the plant to be high in vitamins(especially vitamin C), and sulphur, which gives it a garlic-mustard taste. I've tried young tender leaves in sandwiches, hors d'oeuvres and salads. It can also be dried and ground into a spice, almost like pepper. Pennycress has more of a 'pepper' taste in plants that are more mature. I've also heard 'stinkweed' is a common name for pennycress. It's a great plant.

A common roadside weed that grows in vacant lots and fields.

A genus of about 130 species of the mustard family, Cruciferae.

Most of the weedy species have been introduced from Europe and are usually annuals...although there are a few biennial and perrinial ones also.

The common link is that the leaves and seed capsules have a biting peppery taste and is one of the reasons for the common name 'Poor Man's Pepper'

Usually an undesireable weed, but I have found that the dried seed stems make a great addition to dried arrangements and wreaths.They are sturdy and last for a long time.