Native to North America, mountain pepperweed can be found throughout the American west and into northern Mexico.
Source: White Sands National Park (via Facebook)
By Ranger Rebekah
Photos: Courtesy
It’s that time of the year! Temperatures are rising, the wind is blowing, flowers are blooming, and seasonal allergies are here to torment us all…
But we’ll just ignore that last part, because with so much beauty to spread who can blame the flowers making their presence known. In the park a few wildflowers are beginning to make an appearance. If you have visited recently you may recognize the small white flowers pictured.
These small but mighty blooms you may see effortlessly posing against the desert landscape are Mountain pepperweed (Lepidium montanum). A tiny flowering plant in the mustard (Brassicaceae) family.
Native to North America, mountain pepperweed can be found throughout the American west and into northern Mexico. Although it may sport tiny blooms, this shrub-like plant can grow up to 3.9ft tall and spread in every direction as it grows, forming a dome shape.
The tiny petals of this plant have a short color range from white to cream. Each delicate bloom has four petals, arranged in a cross, with 6 stamens.
In White Sands, mountain pepperweed is often seen in the vegetated parts of the park, on the eastern side of the dune field.
Mountain pepperweed is widespread, so it may be a familiar face as you travel through the park. Although its miniature blooms may smile at you with kindness, please make sure to simply smile back when you see them. While this flowering shrub and other plants within White Sands are resilient, they don’t need to fight against your plucking desires. Please leave them be, so their tiny blooms can bring smiles to generations to come.
To learn more about mountain pepperweed HERE.
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