# Charlock (*mutarda arvensis*)

Charlock is a vibrant yellow wildflower that brightens up fields and gardens. Its cheerful blooms can attract butterflies and bees, making nature even more fun to explore!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Habitat:** Charlock typically grows in fields, meadows, and along roadsides.
- **Also known as:** Brassica

![Charlock](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Herik_17-10-2005_13.59.40.JPG&width=800)

Photo: No machine-readable author provided. TeunSpaans assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Herik_17-10-2005_13.59.40.JPG)

## Appearance

The Charlock has bright yellow, four-petaled flowers arranged in clusters at the top of leafy stems. Its leaves are lobed and hairy, especially at the base, giving it a somewhat wild and untamed appearance.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Brassicales
- **Family:** Brassicaceae
- **Genus:** Brassica

## Interesting facts

- Each tiny flower has four petals that form a cross shape!
- Eating too much raw Charlock can give animals an upset tummy!
- Farmers sometimes call Charlock a 'mustard weed' because it's so common!
- This plant is related to cabbage, broccoli, and kale!

## Special abilities

- **Seed Bank Power:** Charlock has seeds that can stay dormant in the soil for over 60 years, helping it sprout when conditions are perfect.
- **Weed Warrior:** Charlock can produce thousands of seeds from a single plant, allowing it to quickly spread and dominate open ground.
- **Chemical Defense:** Charlock produces special compounds that can discourage some herbivores from eating its leaves and flowers.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-80 cm
- **Spread:** 15-40 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring to fall
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.
- **Eats:** Small White butterfly (*Pieris rapae*) — Larvae feed on leaves of brassica family plants.
- **Eats:** [European Goldfinch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-goldfinch) (*Carduelis carduelis*) — Feeds on ripe seeds from seed pods.
- **Eats:** Crucifer Flea Beetle (*Phyllotreta cruciferae*) — Beetles chew small holes in leaves.

## Traits

- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Charlock?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Charlock?

30-80 cm

### How wide does Charlock spread?

15-40 cm

### How big are the flowers on Charlock?

1-2 cm

### When does Charlock bloom?

Spring to fall

### Is Charlock edible?

Yes

### Is Charlock toxic?

Mild

### What is Charlock's lifecycle?

Annual

## Where to spot

- [Warm Springs Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/warm-springs-park) — California, US · Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Charlock: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/charlock)