Brassica juncea
Family: Brassicaceae
Common names: BROWN, CHINESE MUSTARD, GAI CHOI, INDIAN MUSTARD, KAI TSOI, KARASHINA, LEAF MUSTARD, MUSTARD, MUSTARD CABBAGE, MUSTARD GREENS, MUSTARD PLANT, MUSTARD SEED, SWATOW MUSTARD
Native to: Central Asia, Russia
Plant
Types: annual, biennial, perennial
Form: erect
Max height: 1.75 feet
Max width: 1.75 feet
Flower
yellow
Leaf
green
Horticulture
Attracts wildlife: adult butterfly, specific butterfly species
Seedling days to mature: 60
Edible: herb
Exposure: sun
Landscape use: container
Propagates by: seed
flowers in summer
Soil type: loam
USDA Zones: zone 2 -50 f, zone 3 -40 f, zone 4 -30 f, zone 5 to -20 f, zone 6 to -10 f, zone 7 to 0 f, zone 8 to +10 f, zone 9 to +20 f, zone 10 to +30 f, zone 11 to +40 f
Temp. range: -50 to above +40 °F
Water: regular
Butterflies that feed on this plant
There are 75 species of Brassica, a member of the Brassicaceae family.
Brassica juncea is edible and enjoys numerous common names including BROWN, CHINESE MUSTARD, and MUSTARD (and Gai choi, Indian mustard, Kai tsoi, Karashina, Leaf mustard, Mustard cabbage, and Mustard greens).
Brassica juncea is as edible, yellow-flowering plant grown as either an annual, biennial, or perennial depending upon the variety and the zone. It is native to Central Asia and Russia, and cultivated widely.
It is summer-flowering, grows in sun, prefers regular water, and can be grown from seed in Zones 2-11. It is grown as an annual in zones with freezing temperatures. It reaches a maximum of 1 ¾ feet high and wide and usually takes 60 days to mature to reach an edible state. Brassica juncea can be grown in containers.
This plant attracts adult butterflies to nectar, including Anthocharis sara, Pacific Orangetip, Euchloe ausonides, Large Marble, Pieris marginalis, Margined White, and Pieris rapae, Cabbage White.
Container plants that attract adult butterflies - perennial
This plant can be grown in a container and will attract and feed adult butterflies. These plant can be found in every height range – from tiny to large – from less than a foot high to over 10 feet tall.
Our database of nectar plants for all US butterflies contains over 10,000 entries. The top five nectar plants -- Cirsium, Lantana, Asclepias, Salvia, and Verbena -- will appeal to 90% of all US butterflies. Pick from these if you want to provide nectar for your local butterflies.
Once you start with these, you can add from another 630 genera in 110 plant families to attract more insects to your garden.
By far the most import butterfly nectar plant family is Asteraceae. If you grow plants in from this family, butterflies will find your garden.
