Heart-podded hoary cress (Lepidium draba sub. Draba)
Description: Plants grow up to around 2'-3' tall, have grey/green leaves, and are usually covered in short hairs but can be hairless. Similar to hairy whitetop.
Life Cycle: Perennial
Habitat: Disturbed sites, pastures, roadsides, along riverbanks and other waterways
Leaves: Alternate, blue-green leaves, 1.5"-3" long, with fine hairs. Lower leaves have stalks while upper leaves are without stalks and are heart-shaped.
Flower: Flat-topped clusters of tiny white flowers
Fruit: Seed pods are somewhat heart-shaped, brown, and hairless
Root: Spreading, rhizomatous root system.
The problem is…heart-podded hoary cress is highly competitive and displaces native vegetation. One mature plant produces 1,200 to 4,800 seeds and also spreads by the rootsystem.
