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Rape - Plant Information
Brassica napus
Community Discussions about Rape
The rape (Brassica napus) is generally described as a Annual, Biennial Forb or herb. This Dicot (dicotyledon) is not native to the U.S. (United States) and has its most active growth period in the Fall and Winter and Spring . The Rape has Dark Green foliage and conspicuous Yellow flowers, with conspicuous Black fruits or seeds. The greatest bloom is usually observed in the Early Spring, with fruit and seed production starting in the Summer and continuing until Summer. Leaves are not retained year to year. The Rape has a Short life span relative to most other plant species and a Rapid growth rate. At maturity, the typical Rape will reach up to 4 feet high, with a maximum height at 20 years of 4 feet.
The Rape is usually not commercially available except under contract. It can be propagated by Seed. It has a Moderate ability to spread through seed production and the seedlings have High vigor. Note that cold stratification is not required for seed germination and the plant cannot survive exposure to temperatures below 17°F. Rape has Low tolerance to drought and restricted water conditions.
Plant Name Synonyms
- Brassica napobrassica
- Brassica napus var. napobrassica
USDA Plant Status
- Sorry, this plant has no status information with the USDA
Plant Distribution
Rape can be found in Alabama (AL), Alaska (AK), Arkansas (AR), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Georgia (GA), Idaho (ID), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Iowa (IA), Kansas (KS), Kentucky (KY), Louisiana (LA), Maine (ME), Maryland (MD), Massachusetts (MA), Michigan (MI), Mississippi (MS), Missouri (MO), Montana (MT), Nevada (NV), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), New Mexico (NM), New York (NY), North Carolina (NC), Ohio (OH), Oklahoma (OK), Oregon (OR), Rhode Island (RI), South Carolina (SC), Tennessee (TN), Vermont (VT), Virginia (VA), Washington (WA), West Virginia (WV) and Wisconsin (WI)
Taxonomy
- Plantae | Kingdom
- Magnoliophyta | Division
- Magnoliopsida | Class
- Capparales | Order
- Brassicaceae | Family
- Brassica | Genus
Related Plants
- Asian Mustard (Tournefortii)
- Black Mustard (Nigra)
- Broadbeaked Mustard (Narinosa)
- Cabbage (Oleracea)
- Broccoli (Botrytis)
- Brussels Sprouts (Gemmifera)
- Kohlrabi (Gongylodes)
- Sprouting Broccoli (Italica)
- Tronchuda Cabbage (Costata)
- Brassica Carinata
- Chinese Kale (Alboglabra)
- Elongated Mustard (Elongata)
- False Pak Choi (Parachinensis)
- Field Mustard (Rapa)
- Brown Sarson (Sarson)
- Colza (Silvestris)
- Field Mustard (Amplexicaulis)
- Field Mustard (Rapa)
- Rape Mustard (Rapa)
- Toria (Dichotoma)
- Yellow Sarson (Trilocularis)
- India Mustard (Juncea)
- Mediterranean Cabbage (Fruticulosa)
- Mustard (Cretica)
- Mustard (Rupestris)
- Pak Choi (Chinensis)
- Rape (Napus)
- Siberian Kale (Pabularia)
- Ruvo Kale (Ruvo)
- Seventop Turnip (Septiceps)
- Brassica Sisymbrioides
- Tender Green (Perviridis)
| Common Characteristics | Data for Rape |
|---|---|
| Plant Basics | |
| Category | Dicot |
| General Type | Forb/herb |
| Growth Rate | Rapid |
| Growth Period | Fall, Winter, Spring |
| Growth Duration | Annual, Biennial |
| Lifespan | Short |
| Plant Nativity | Introduced to U.S. |
| Commercial Availability | Contracting Only |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Bloom Period | Early Spring |
| Displays Fall Colors | Yes |
| Shape/Growth Form |
Single Crown(options) |
| Shape & Orientation |
Erect(options) |
| Drought Tolerance |
Low(options) |
| Shade Tolerance |
Intolerant(options) |
| Height When Mature | 4 feet |
| Vegetative Spread Rate |
None(options) |
| Flower Color | Yellow |
| Flower Conspicuousness | Yes |
| Fruit/Seed Color | Black |
| Fruit/Seed Conspicuousness | No |
| Fruit/Seed Abundance | High |
| Fruit/Seed Seasonality | Summer–Summer |
| Seed Spread Rate |
Moderate
(options)
with seedling vigor |
| Gardening Characteristics | |
| Propagations (Ways to Grow) | Seed |
| Moisture Requirements |
Medium(options) |
| Cold Stratification Required | No |
| Minimum Temperature | 17°F |
| Soil Depth for Roots | 6 inches minimum |
| Toxic to Nearby Plants | No |
| Toxic to Livestock | No |
| After-Harvest Regrowth Rate | Slow (options) |
| After-Harvest Resprout Ability | No |
| Responds to Coppicing | No |
| Growth Requirements | |
| pH Range | 6–7.2 pH |
| Precipitation Range | 40–80 inches/yr |
| Planting Density | – indiv./acre |
| Soil Textures | Fine and Medium |
| Minimum Frost-Free Days | 130 days |
| Salinity Tolerance | None (options) |
| Carbon:Nitrogen (C:N) Ratio | Low (options) |
| CaCO3 Tolerance | None (options) |
| Sustainability & Use | |
| Leaf Retention | No |
| Palatablity | humans |
| Fire Resistant | No |
| Causes Livestock Bloating | None (options) |
Source: USDA, NRCS, PLANTS Database, plants.usda.gov.
National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA
