Broadbeaked Mustard

Brassica rapa

Native to:
Albania, Algeria, Bulgaria, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Morocco, North Caucasus, NW. Balkan Pen., Oman, Saudi Arabia, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Brassicaceae
Genus:
Brassica
Species:
Brassica rapa
USDA Symbol:
BRNA3

Growth Characteristics

Height:
100 cm
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
mar,apr,may,jun
Bloom Colors:
yellow

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Alfalfa Looper (Autographa californica), Army cutworm (Euxoa auxiliaris), Bertha armyworm (Mamestra configurata), Bronzed Cutworm (Nephelodes minians), cabbage budworm moth (Hellula phidilealis), Cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni), darksided cutworm (Euxoa messoria), dingy cutworm (Feltia jaculifera), European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis), Evergestis pallidata, Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), fragile anacamptodes moth (Anacamptodes fragilaria), kidney-spotted minor (Lacinipolia renigera), lesser cornstalk borer (Elasmopalpus lignosellus), nutmeg (Discestra trifolii), Old Man Dart (Agrotis vetusta), Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum), Small Mocis Moth (Mocis latipes), Striped Garden Caterpillar Moth (Trichordestra legitima), Sweetpotato Armyworm (Spodoptera dolichos), tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta), underworld dart (Agrotis subterranea), Variegated cutworm (Peridroma saucia), Virginia Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica), White-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata), Yellow-striped armyworm (Spodoptera ornithogalli), zebra caterpillar moth (Melanchra picta), Checkered White (Pontia protodice), Large Marble (Euchloe ausonides), Sara Orangetip (Anthocharis sara)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: ⚠️Western honey bee (Apis mellifera), Yellow bumble bee (Bombus fervidus)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, butterflies

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
None required
Germination Time:
3–10 days
Notes:
Germinates readily at cool temperatures (10-20°C). Light not required for germination.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI

ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20C. Germinates within 3 months.

Source: Ontario Rock Garden & Hardy Plant Society