Radish

Raphanus sativus

Also known as Common Radish, Garden Radish, Daikon (Asian varieties), Red Radish

At a glance

Family

Brassicaceae (the mustard, or cabbage, family)

Type

Annual or biennial root vegetable

Parts used

Root, leaves (greens), sprouted seeds

Size

Roots typically 1 to 6 inches; plant reaches 6 to 24 inches tall when flowering

Bloom

Small white to pale pink or lavender four-petaled flowers, if left to bolt in late spring

Habitat

Cultivated garden beds and farm plots worldwide, in cool, loose, well-drained soil

Acquisition

Grow or buy

Traditional remedies in HerbSense

Key benefits

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Traditionally aids digestion

Traditionally supports liver function

Rich in vitamin C

Traditionally used for congestion

Traditional uses

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Radish has traveled alongside people for thousands of years, likely originating in Southeast Asia before spreading through ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, where it was valued as both food and folk remedy. Traditional European and Asian herbal practices have long used the root and its juice to traditionally support digestion, ease coughs and congestion, and encourage healthy liver and gallbladder function. In traditional Chinese medicine, the daikon type of radish has been used to help move stagnant food and clear phlegm. Beyond the root, cooks and healers alike have prized the peppery greens, which were once considered too valuable to waste and were simmered into soups and tonics.

How to grow & use it

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The full apothecary for Radish

Traditional remedies and step-by-step preparations, a complete growing guide, and how to harvest, dry, and store it, all unlocked with HerbLens Unlimited.

✦Remedies & preparations
✦ Growing guide
✦Harvest & storage

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Pairs well with

✦Fennel
✦Ginger
✦Dandelion greens

Substitutes

✦Daikon
✦Horseradish (for a stronger, sharper bite)

Choose it when

“You want a bright, peppery bite that wakes up a plate and a root that has been feeding and healing households since before recorded history.”

Did you know?

Ancient Egyptian records suggest radishes, along with onions and garlic, were rationed out to the laborers who built the pyramids, making the humble radish one of the oldest cultivated vegetables on earth.

Safety

Radish is a safe, everyday food. Very large amounts may mildly affect thyroid function, so those with thyroid conditions shouldn't overdo it.