ExplorePlants

field mustard

Brassica rapa

Field mustard is a bright yellow flower that grows in fields and gardens. It has small, pretty flowers and is loved by bees and butterflies!

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The field mustard has slender green stems that can be smooth or slightly hairy, supporting bright clusters of small, four-petaled yellow flowers. Its lower leaves are deeply lobed and often hairy, differing from the smoother, stem-clasping upper leaves.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderBrassicalesFamilyBrassicaceaeGenusBrassica
field mustard
flowering trait badgebiennial trait badgespring_blooming trait badgeagricultural trait badge
field mustard

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Did you know the plant that gives us turnips, bok choy, and rapeseed oil is a type of field mustard?

Honeybees absolutely love its bright yellow flowers, buzzing around to collect its sweet nectar.

Its tiny seeds can stay alive in the soil for decades, waiting for the perfect time to sprout!

Some field mustard plants can grow taller than a kid, reaching over three feet high!

Special abilities

Ability

Rapid Responder

Field mustard can grow very quickly and produce many seeds, which helps it colonize disturbed areas like fields and roadsides fast.

Ability

Chemical Guard

Field mustard has special compounds called mustard oils that give it a peppery taste, helping to deter some hungry animals from eating it.

Ability

Seed Powerhouse

Field mustard produces thousands of tiny seeds per plant, ensuring that many more can grow the next year.

Measurements & details

Height
30-100 cm
Spread
15-45 cm
Flower Size
0.5-1.5 cm
Bloom Season
Spring to early summer
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Annual
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

honey bee

Apis mellifera

collects nectar and pollen from flowers

eaten by

small cabbage white butterfly

Pieris rapae

caterpillars feed on its leaves

eaten by

European rabbit

Oryctolagus cuniculus

grazes on the leaves and stems

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always check with an adult before picking any plants.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is field mustard?

30-100 cm

How wide does field mustard spread?

15-45 cm

How big are the flowers on field mustard?

0.5-1.5 cm

When does field mustard bloom?

Spring to early summer

Is field mustard edible?

Yes

Is field mustard toxic?

None

What is field mustard's lifecycle?

Annual

How is field mustard pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.

Loading map…

Recent Snaps

Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.

More Plants