Plants emerges from thick, minimally branched roots or semi-woody crowns in early spring to late fall. Individuals remain as a rosette for several weeks before the stem elongates. Rosette and basal leaves tend to senesce as the top of the plants develops. The above ground parts begin to die back in late summer or early fall.
Dead stems can persist for several years.
Lepidium latifolium flowers and fruits in late spring, continuing through most of the growing season. Plants have a horseradish taste and odor. Rosette leaves can be up to approximately 30 cm long and 8 cm wide with serrate margins and can have 3 - 15 cm long petioles. The cauline leaves are alternate, sessile and significantly reduced. They taper at the base, are lanceolate to elliptic or oblong and have entire or weakly serrate margins.