Raphanus sativus (radish)

Raphanus sativus

Photo courtesy Joseph DiTomaso

Raphanus sativus (radish) is an annual or occasionally a perennial (family Brassicaceae) that frequently invades grasslands and open/disturbed areas, including roadsides in California. Wild radish may also be found in wetland areas. Wild radishes are capable of excluding native plant species and are, on rare occasion, toxic to livestock.

Cal-IPC Inventory rating: Limited

Cal-IPC Resources on Raphanus sativus

• California Invasive Plant Inventory Assessment Form (pdf) - Information gathered by Cal-IPC on the impacts, rate of spread, and distribution of invasive plants in California. Does not include management information.
• Cal-IPC News - Articles from our quarterly newsletter. Each issue is available as a pdf. List of articles on Raphanus sativus.
• Cal-IPC Symposium Proceedings - Presentations and papers from our annual Symposium. List of articles on Raphanus sativus.
• Weed Worker's Handbook (pdf) - Includes reproduction factors and treatment options.

Cal-IPC News Articles

• Holt, J. S. (2005). Invasive plants research at UC Riverside. Cal-IPC News. 13: 12-13.

Cal-IPC Symposium Proceedings

• Ridley, C. E. and N. C. Ellstrand (2007). Interloper's legacy: Invasive, hybrid-derived California wild radish (Raphanus sativus) evolves to outperform its immigrant parents. California Invasive Plant Council Symposium 2007. San Diego, CA, California Invasive Plant Council.
• Maher, E. and E. Stanton (2005). Blurring edges: A test of weed control methods used along edges of sage scrub patches to encourage shrub colonization into abandoned agricultural fields. California Invasive Plant Council Symposium 2005. Chico, CA.
• Uschyk, K. L. and P. Slattery (2000). The use of native yellow lupines for controlling ripgut brome and radish. California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium 2000. Concord, CA.

Other Resources on Raphanus sativus

• USDA PLANTS database - Federal database with information on identification and distribution, and links to websites in individual states.
• Jepson Online Interchange for California Flora - Information on taxonomy, biology, and distribution from the UC Berkeley Jepson Herbarium.
• CalFlora - Distribution information by county based on submitted observations and herbarium specimens.
• The Nature Conservancy Management Summary - Information compiled by TNC land managers. Photos included for some species.
• CalPhotos - Images of plants taken mostly in California.
• Natural Resource Projects Inventory - State database with information on resource management projects throughout California. Query by the species of interest.

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