Sinapis arvensis

RHS Plant Profile
charlock

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Other common names

carlock, corn mustard, field kale, kedlock, kerlock, kinkle, wild kale, wild mustard, California rape

Synonyms

Brassica arvensis
Brassica kaber

Plants for pollinators
Annual Biennial
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A branched annual reaching 1.5m in height. Stems may be red-tinged, and leaves are dark green, toothed and veined. Four petalled, yellow flowers are borne from April to October are followed by short and cylindrical seed pods with flattened tips

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0-0.1 metre

Size

Time to Maturity
1 year
Max Spread
0-0.1 metre
Max Height
1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H7

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Brassicaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
Yes
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Sinapis are annual herbaceous plants and include species grown for mustard. Reaching a height of between 20cm and 1m, stems are hairy, erect and branched. Leaves are petiolate and between 1 and 4cm long. Bright yellow flowers appear from May through to August/September. The seeds follow and are dark red to brown in colour.
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Eurasia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Occurs naturally on arable and waste ground. Provides a larval food source for butterflies and seed is a food source for birds

Propagation

Propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Wildlife gardens
  • Wildflower meadow

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free