Horse-radish is a common perennial of waste ground, railway cuttings and roadside verges mainly in England. Arriving here from western Asia sometime before the 16th century, the use of prepared Horse-radish roots as a condiment for meat quickly became popular. But the preparation of Horse-radish is pretty hard-going - the pungent roots can cause tears worse than those from chopping an onion! Today, commercial production is widespread.
How to identify
Horse-radish has long, crinkled, oval leaves and tiny, white flowers that appear in clusters on the long stem.
Where to find it
Mostly found in England.
When to find it
How can people help
Horse-radish is an introduced species that has become widespread and naturalised in the UK over hundreds of years without much cause for concern. However, the effects of introduced species are not always as benign. The Wildlife Trusts work with researchers, scientists and other conservationists to monitor changes in our native wildlife to determine the effects of environmental change, such as the introduction of new species or climate change. You can help: volunteer for your local Trust and you'll be able to monitor populations and survey habitats, adding to a growing bank of data.