Rapeseed Brassica napus (Oleifera Group)

Rapeseed is an annual to biannual plant in the mustard family (Brassicaceae). The Genus name is Latin for cabbage

It prefers moist fertile well-drained soil in full sun to light shade and a pH of 5-8. It needs frequent fertilization including sulfur.  Annual varieties are grown in cool summer areas and biannual types are grown further south. They will grow 2-4 feet tall and have escaped cultivation to become weedy in some areas.

The seeds of these plants produce an oil often referred to as canola and is the third largest source of vegetable oil in the world. The oil is used in cooking, as a lubricant and as an illuminant. It is also grown as forage for livestock 

The yellow flowers have 4 petals and bloom times differ with the variety grown. The large leaves are pinnatified with a powdery bloom. The seed pod is elongated with a row of black seeds when mature.

It is not generally grown in the home garden but is grown commercially in several countries of Europe, Asia and North America.

Potential Problems: powdery mildew, clubroot, anthracnose, root-knot and leaf spot. Insect problems can include aphids, cutworms, loopers, flea beetles, root maggots and wireworms.