Black Mustard
Mutarda nigra
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Brassicaceae
- Genus:
- Mutarda
- Species:
- Mutarda nigra
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 3-4 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar, apr, may, jun, jul, aug
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
Native Range
United States: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Agrotis orthogonia, Army cutworm (Euxoa auxiliaris), Black cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon), Cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni), cabbage webworm (Hellula undalis), Copablepharon viridisparsa, Painted Tiger Moth (Arachnis picta), Pale-banded Dart (Agnorisma badinodis), spotted eustixia moth (Eustixia pupula), Variegated cutworm (Peridroma saucia), Becker's white (Pontia beckerii), Checkered White (Pontia protodice), Large Marble (Euchloe ausonides), Sara Orangetip (Anthocharis sara), Small White (Pieris rapae), Western white (Pontia occidentalis)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to Mediterranean regions