Virginia Pepperweed
Lepidium virginicum
- Native to:
- Bahamas, Belize, Cayman Is., Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guam, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Mexico, Palau, Panamá, Prince Edward I., Puerto Rico, Trinidad-Tobago, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, United States, Venezuelan Antilles, Virgin Islands, Windward Is.
Tauʻolunga
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Brassicaceae
- Genus:
- Lepidium
- Species:
- Lepidium virginicum
- USDA Symbol:
- LEVI3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual | Biennial | Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 60 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- white
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Eversmann's rustic (Actebia fennica), Flame Carpet (Xanthorhoe designata), spotted eustixia moth (Eustixia pupula), underworld dart (Agrotis subterranea), Becker's white (Pontia beckerii), California Marble (Euchloe hyantis), Checkered White (Pontia protodice), Western white (Pontia occidentalis)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Butterflies:Checkered White (Pontia protodice), Great Southern White (Ascia monuste), Small White (Pieris rapae)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Pioneer species that colonizes disturbed and burned areas rapidly from seed bank.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- poor, sandy, well-drained soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives in disturbed areas and open fields
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily without pretreatment. Light may enhance germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI