Field Pennycress is an annual weed in the mustard family. It is native to Eurasia and is found in fields, along roadways and other disturbed areas. Its preference is for poor soils with some moisture in full sun but is tolerant of various conditions. It has a shallow root system and is easy to hand pull. It initially forms a rosette of leaves but these fade as the ribbed flower stem emerge. The flowers are tiny and white in elongated clusters with the flowers forming at the top and the fruits below. The distinctive seed pods are flat round papery pods with a top-notch that split to spill black seeds. The mustard-garlic flavor of the leaves is not a favorite of grazing animals but the milk of dairy cows is affected if they eat it.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Rosulate
Leaf shape
Oblanceolate; Oblong
Leaf margin
Dentate; Undulate
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Initially, a rosette of oblanceolate leaves is formed with a rounded tip, entire to wavy margins and short stems. These fade early as the flowering stem arises with oblong, stalkless and clasping leaves. The margins have rounded to pointed teeth.
Flower color
White
Flower form
Raceme
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Elongating dense clusters of flowers form at the upper axils of leaves with small 1/8-1/4 inch white flowers opening at the top and fruit forming below. 4 white petals with 6 greenish-white anthers and a flat ovary. There are 4 green sepals with whitish edges below the petals.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Fruit is a flat oval 2-parted pod about ½ inch long with a notch at the tip. It dries to a papery orange-tan shell. Each side of the pod holds up to 8 seeds that mature to nearly black.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Ribbed green stems may be branched at the top and may be winged
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Eurasia
Distribution
Throughout N. America
Wildlife value
The nectar may attract small bees and flies. Some white butterflies and moths will lay their eggs on the leaves
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow
Garden tags
#annual weed #problem for horses #white flowers #disturbed areas #roadside #pasture #herb garden #weedy