Wild Radish ~ Raphanus Raphanistrum Print

Wild Radish — Raphanus raphanistrum

A familiar yet often overlooked wildflower, wild radish sends up softly veined petals in shades of white, cream, yellow, or pale lilac, marked with fine purple lines. It grows freely in fields, roadsides, and disturbed soils, stitching itself into everyday landscapes across the Mediterranean and beyond.

Edibility: Edible, with caution.
The young leaves, flowers, and seed pods have traditionally been eaten, while the root is usually tough and bitter. Flavour and palatability vary widely between plants.

Medicinal use: Limited, traditional.
Wild radish has a modest history in folk traditions, mainly associated with digestive support and mild diuretic use, though it is not a major medicinal plant and is rarely used in modern herbal practice.

Hardy and adaptable, Raphanus raphanistrum thrives where the land has been turned, walked on, or forgotten ~ a reminder that usefulness and beauty often arrive disguised as weeds.