Skip to main content

Mountain Pepperwort

Lepidium montanum

Last reviewed: October 2026

Mountain Pepperwort (Lepidium montanum)
Photo: (c) John Brew, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by John Brew

Toxicity unknown

Mountain Pepperwort (Lepidium montanum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Mountain Pepperwort as toxic to livestock.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

12"–36" H × 12"–24" W

Bloom

Mar, Apr, May

Native to

AZ, CA, CO, ID and 8 more states

Pollinators

butterflies, bees, nectar insects

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 460 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Picture natives in your own yard

Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Mountain Pepperwort.

Try it with your yardDownload on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Northwestern Forested MountainsNorth American DesertsCentral Basin and RangeMojave Basin and RangeSouthern RockiesArizona/New Mexico MountainsChihuahuan DesertsHigh PlainsSouthwestern TablelandsMadrean ArchipelagoSonoran Basin and Range

Mountain Pepperwort is a compact native forb that produces clusters of small white flowers in spring. This drought-tolerant biennial grows in a neat mounded form and goes dormant in summer heat, returning the following year from seed.

Get an email before your first frost

We'll email you a week before frost can first reach your ZIP. You also get a printable fall checklist with your dates right away.

You'll also get our weekly yard notes. Unsubscribe anytime.

In an HOA neighborhood

Mountain Pepperwort is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 2 out of 5.

Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.

Wildlife value

The spring blooms attract butterflies, bees, and other nectar-seeking insects during an important early season period.

Common questions

How much sun does Mountain Pepperwort need?
Mountain Pepperwort grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Mountain Pepperwort bloom?
Mountain Pepperwort blooms in March, April, and May.
Where is Mountain Pepperwort native?
Mountain Pepperwort (Lepidium montanum) is native to AZ, CA, CO, ID and 8 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
Is Mountain Pepperwort toxic to livestock?
The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Mountain Pepperwort as toxic to livestock.
What pollinators does Mountain Pepperwort attract?
Mountain Pepperwort draws butterflies, bees, and nectar insects.
Is Mountain Pepperwort HOA-friendly?
Mountain Pepperwort is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

Ready to grow Mountain Pepperwort? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

Add this plant to your garden
iPhone appAndroid app