Radish
VUVulnerable

Radish

Raphanus raphanistrum

**Wild Radish (Raphanus raphanistrum)** Wild radish is an annual herbaceous plant in the mustard family, characterized by four-petaled flowers ranging from white to yellow or purple, and distinctive segmented seed pods. Growing 30-60 cm tall with deeply lobed leaves, this species serves as a pollinator resource and food source for various insects and birds that consume its seeds.

124

Countries

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raphanus_raphanistrum

01Classification

Taxonomy & Classification

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Tracheophyta

Class

Magnoliopsida

Order

Brassicales

Family

Brassicaceae

Genus

Raphanus

Radish belongs to the family Brassicaceae, order Brassicales, within the Magnoliopsida class.

02Description

Species Profile

**Wild Radish (Raphanus raphanistrum)** Wild radish is an annual herbaceous plant in the mustard family, characterized by four-petaled flowers ranging from white to yellow or purple, and distinctive segmented seed pods. Growing 30-60 cm tall with deeply lobed leaves, this species serves as a pollinator resource and food source for various insects and birds that consume its seeds. This cosmopolitan species has established populations across six continents, thriving in disturbed soils, agricultural margins, roadsides, and coastal areas. Originally native to the Mediterranean region, wild radish has spread globally through human activity and now occurs from temperate Europe and North America to Australia, South Africa, and parts of Asia and South America. Despite its IUCN Vulnerable status, the specific threats facing wild radish remain poorly documented, as formal threat assessments have not been conducted. The species' widespread distribution as both a native and introduced plant complicates conservation prioritization. In agricultural regions, it faces pressure from herbicide applications and intensive farming practices, while habitat modification and urban development may impact local populations. Currently, no targeted conservation programs specifically address wild radish populations. Its status as an agricultural weed in many regions creates complex management challenges, as control efforts in farming areas may conflict with conservation needs in native habitats. The species' future trajectory remains uncertain due to insufficient population monitoring data. While its broad global distribution suggests resilience, the lack of systematic assessment of population trends and threats prevents accurate evaluation of conservation status. Enhanced monitoring and threat assessment would provide crucial data for determining appropriate conservation strategies.

Wild Radish populations face significant pressure from intensive agricultural practices, including herbicide applications and habitat conversion of traditional farmland and field margins. Climate change and altered precipitation patterns are disrupting the species' natural flowering and seed production cycles, while competition from invasive plant species further threatens remaining populations.

Key Facts

IUCN StatusVulnerable (VU)
GroupPlants
03Habitat

Habitat & Distribution

It is native to temperate regions of North Africa, Europe and parts of Western Asia.

TERRESTRIALMajorTERRESTRIALMajorTERRESTRIALMajor
04Threats

Threats

Herbicide application in agricultural systems

MediumOngoing

Competition from other invasive weeds

LowOngoing

Habitat conversion to intensive agriculture

LowOngoing
07National Status

National vs Global Threat Status

How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (VU).

CountryNational StatusGlobal StatusComparison
EULCLeast ConcernVUVulnerableLower local risk
EULCLeast ConcernVUVulnerableLower local risk

National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.

Community

Community Sightings

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07Sources

Sources & Attribution

How to Cite

IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS

GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org

National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org

This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Radish (Raphanus raphanistrum). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/radish

Full citation guide & data usage terms