Horseradish is a herbaceous perennial in the mustard family (Brassicaceae) brought to the US by colonists and is native to Eastern Europe and Western Asia. This plant can grow 2-5 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide in full sun in amended well-drained moist garden soil. Lighter soils will make harvesting easier. It prefers cool summer areas and is grown during the summer for a fall crop. After the first frost when the leaves die, the root is dug up and the main root harvested. One or more side roots can either be replanted or stored until spring. If left unharvested the plant will spread by underground roots and become weedy forming colonies. They can be difficult to eradicate. The large leaves grow in a rosette and resemble docks, The four-petaled white flowers are in dense clusters during the summer. The root is a thick rhizome and is harvested for spices. As a vegetable, it is grown for its fleshy roots that are harvested and grated to make relish, sauces, and seasonings. They have a hot, bitter taste that comes from mustard oils that are released when the plant cells are cut or damaged. The leaves are edible but rarely used. Use this plant in the edible garden. Click here to see a calendar of planting schedules, time-to-harvest, and recommended spacing. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: It can be weedy if uncontroled. The smallest piece left in the soil can take root and grow into another plant. The leaves are occasionally eaten by cabbageworm larvae, mustard leaf beetles and flea beetles.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet; 3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 6 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Spreading
Texture
Coarse
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Rosulate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Oblong
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The dark green basil leaves can grow up 2' long and 6" wide. The stem leaves grow to 6" long and 2" wide. They are alternate, simple, and the margin is toothed. As they ascend the stem, the leaves become smaller.
Flower color
White
Flower form
Panicle; Raceme
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The non-showy flowers are small, white, and 4-parted. They form in panicles or racemes up to 16" long.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Oblong seed pods form after flowering. Each can contain up to 8 seeds. Rarely produces viable seeds in cold winter climates.
Stem color
Green
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
S. Ukraine to European Russia
Distribution
Worldwide distribution
Wildlife value
It is pollinated by bees, flies and beetles.
Attracts
Bees; Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Roots
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Capsule
Edibility
Edible parts: roots, used as a condiment, but only in small amounts. Lmay be boiled in salted water until tender.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Roots and leaves were used medicinally in the middle ages