Flower profile
Wild radish
Raphanus raphanistrum
Wild radish is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Rhode Island
Quick look
Raphanus raphanistrum, also known as wild radish, white charlock or jointed charlock, is a flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. The species is native to western Asia, Europe and parts of Northern Africa. It has been introduced into most parts of the world and is regarded as a habitat threatening invasive species in many areas, for example, Australia.
- It belongs to the Brassicaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual, biennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 42 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as not native to Rhode Island. NatureServe
- iNaturalist has 153 research-grade sightings of it in Rhode Island, ranking #101 among the 110 flowers on our Rhode Island list. iNaturalist
Wild radish gift ideas
Handmade wild radish gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Wild radish art print
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Wild radish greeting card
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Wild radish mug
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Wild radish earrings
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Wild radish embroidery pattern
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Wild radish sticker
When does it bloom?
There are only a handful of Rhode Island flowering records, so this chart uses records from across the U.S.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
- Rhode Island
- Not listed Not on Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Rhode Island. RI rare plants 2016
- Rare elsewhere
- No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
NC State Extension notes: “Young leaves and seeds can be used in salads.” NC State Extension
ASPCA's entry “Wild Radish” (Raphanus raphanistrum) lists it as toxic to horses. Signs include: Gastrointestinal irritation… ASPCA
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records wild radish in 42 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
Rhode Island counties with USDA records: Bristol, Kent, Newport, Providence, Washington.
More Rhode Island flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile RARA2.
- iNaturalist, Raphanus raphanistrum: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Raphanus raphanistrum (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Rhode Island: Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Raphanus raphanistrum (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
- Photo: Kent P. McFarland via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.