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Horseradish Armoracia rusticana 

 
 
Attracts BeesBees are attracted to this plant
Attracts ButterfliesButterflies are attracted to this plant
Attracts HoverfliesHoverflies are attracted to this plant
Attracts FliesFlies are attracted to this plant
Attracts BeetlesBeetles are attracted to this plant
Perennial Life CyclePerennial life cycle
Cross-Shaped FlowersCross-shaped flowers
White FlowersWhite flowers
4 Petals4 petals
May-Jul Flowering
period
Oval LeavesOval leaves
Round-Toothed LeavesRound-toothed leaves
Ribbed StemRibbed stem
Tap RootTap root
60cmMaximum height
 
 
  Main image of Horseradish
© 2021 Adrian Briggs
 

Horseradish is a non-native perennial plant of the UK, typically found growing in water margins and waste ground, to a mature height of up to 60cm.

Horseradish was introduced into the UK before the sixteenth century as a medicinal plant, and from the seventeenth century it came to be grown as a root vegetable and used as a condiment. Horseradish has distinctive leaves, which are smooth, broad and long, with prominent midribs and veins, and crinkly round-toothed edges.

Botanic classification and naming: Horseradish is a member of the Cabbage (Brassicaceae) family. The genus name 'Armoracia' identifies the plant as a Horseradish and its species name 'rusticana' means 'countryside plant'.

Benefits: Apart from attracting a wide range of pollinators, Horseradish is also used in cultivation as a companion plant, as its flowers attract hoverflies that predate a number of crop pest species.

Benefits to wildlife are also indicated with orange icons in the plant profile bar at the top.

 

 
Flower of Horseradish

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Flowers:
Horseradish usually flowers between May and July.

Flower colour:

Flower Colour White

White

Flower shape:

Flower Shape  Cross

Cross

Petals:

Petal Number =  4

4

Leaf of Horseradish

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Leaves:

Leaf Shape:

Leaf Shape is Oval

Oval

Or:

Alternative Leaf Shape is Elongated

Elongated

Leaf Margins:

Leaf Margin is round-toothed

round-toothed

Stem of Horseradish

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Stem and Roots:

Stem shape:

Stem Shape is Ribbed

Ribbed

Root type:

Root Type is Tap

Tap