Plant Details

Armoracia rusticana

Horseradish

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Common names

30 names · 24 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Horse-radish[1]
  • Horseradish[2]
Other languages (23)
Dutch
French
Belarusian
  • Хрэн звычайны[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • křen selský[2]
Danish
Estonian
  • aed-mädarõigas[2]
Finnish
  • maustepiparjuuri[2]
  • Piparjuuri[2]
German
  • Garten-Meerrettich[1]
  • Kren[2]
  • Meerrettich[2]
Hungarian
  • közönséges torma[2]
Italian
Japanese
  • ウマダイコン[2]
  • セイヨウワサビ[2]
Latvian
Lithuanian
  • Valgomasis krienas[2]
Norwegian
Polish
  • Chrzan pospolity[2]
Russian
  • Хрен обыкновенный[2]
Slovak
  • chren dedinský[2]
Slovenian
  • navadni hren[2]
Swedish
Turkish
  • kaşık otu[2]
Ukrainian
  • Хрін звичайний[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Armoracia rusticana G.Gaertn., B.Mey. & Scherb. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Garten-Meerrettich (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 146444; taxon VJT6M.
  • Horse-radish (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 146445; taxon VJT6M.
[2] Armoracia rusticana — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Horseradish — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 75566; Armoracia rusticana.
  • Raifort — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 75566; Armoracia rusticana.
  • Piparjuuri — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 75566; Armoracia rusticana.
  • Meerrettich — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 75566; Armoracia rusticana.
  • křen selský — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 75566; Armoracia rusticana.
  • Pepparrot — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 75566; Armoracia rusticana.
  • Peberrod — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 75566; Armoracia rusticana.
  • aed-mädarõigas — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 75566; Armoracia rusticana.
  • Хрен обыкновенный — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 75566; Armoracia rusticana.
  • Хрін звичайний — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 75566; Armoracia rusticana.
  • pepperrot — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 75566; Armoracia rusticana.
  • Rafano — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 75566; Armoracia rusticana.
  • Valgomasis krienas — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 75566; Armoracia rusticana.
  • maustepiparjuuri — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 75566; Armoracia rusticana.
  • Chrzan pospolity — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 75566; Armoracia rusticana.
  • ウマダイコン — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 75566; Armoracia rusticana.
  • 辣根 — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 75566; Armoracia rusticana.
  • Mierikswortel — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 75566; Armoracia rusticana.
  • kaşık otu — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 75566; Armoracia rusticana.
  • Kren — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 75566; Armoracia rusticana.
  • navadni hren — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 75566; Armoracia rusticana.
  • Хрэн звычайны — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 75566; Armoracia rusticana.
  • 辣根 — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 75566; Armoracia rusticana.
  • セイヨウワサビ — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 75566; Armoracia rusticana.
  • Mierik — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 75566; Armoracia rusticana.
  • közönséges torma — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 75566; Armoracia rusticana.
  • Mārrutks — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 75566; Armoracia rusticana.
  • chren dedinský — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 75566; Armoracia rusticana.

General information

Scientific name: Armoracia rusticana
Accepted name (Kew): Armoracia rusticana G.Gaertn., B.Mey. & Scherb. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Brassicaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Armoracia (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Horseradish
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Ground cover
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.61–1.52 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.76–1.22 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [3]
Foliage: None
Growth habit: Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Condiment, Root, Tea
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Fungicide, Repellent

Description

Young root - raw or cooked. Grated root is used to make horseradish sauce, which has a spicy mustard-like flavor. The sauce is best used uncooked or gently warmed, as too much heat can destroy the volatile oils responsible for the sharpness. In Germany, the roots are sometimes sliced and cooked, similar to parsnips. Carrots are a rich source of sulfur. Fresh carrots contain sinigrin glycoside, which produces mustard oil in the presence of water with the help of the enzyme myrosin, giving it the sharp taste. The thick roots can grow up to 60 cm long and 5 cm thick. The plant is hardy and can be harvested from the ground throughout the winter. Alternatively, the roots can be harvested early in winter and stored for later use. They maintain their juicy state for some time when kept in dry sand. Young leaves - raw or cooked. They have a strong flavor that is pleasant in small amounts in salads. According to some reports, they have a mild, pleasant taste. Seeds can be germinated and eaten in salads.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/10
Harvest ends: 31/03

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 721175; name ID 2652936; Armoracia G.Gaertn., B.Mey. & Scherb.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1313613; name ID 2652952; Armoracia rusticana G.Gaertn., B.Mey. & Scherb..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Armoracia rusticana

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 5293776, ID VJT6M: Armoracia rusticana G.Gaertn., B.Mey. & Scherb. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Armoracia rusticana — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 2 ft. 6 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .