Cultivated Radish
Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus
- Native to:
- Greece, Guam, Italy, NW. Balkan Pen., Palau, Puerto Rico, Sicilia, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Brassicaceae
- Genus:
- Raphanus
- Species:
- Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus
- USDA Symbol:
- RASA2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual | Biennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 120 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- white, pink, purple
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Army cutworm (Euxoa auxiliaris), Armyworm moth (Pseudaletia unipuncta), Black cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon), cabbage budworm moth (Hellula phidilealis), Cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni), cabbage webworm (Hellula rogatalis), Celery leaftier (Udea rubigalis), Crassivesica bochus, darksided cutworm (Euxoa messoria), Euxoa ochrogaster, Euxoa scandens, Euxoa tessellata, Evergestis pallidata, Flame Carpet (Xanthorhoe designata), glassy cutworm (Apamea devastator), nutmeg (Discestra trifolii), tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta), Variegated cutworm (Peridroma saucia), Virginia Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica), zebra caterpillar moth (Melanchra picta), Checkered White (Pontia protodice), Large Marble (Euchloe ausonides), Sara Orangetip (Anthocharis sara), Small White (Pieris rapae)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers fertile soil with good organic content
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 4–10 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily in cool to warm soil temperatures without pretreatment. Direct sow outdoors.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI