Brassicaceae
Ball-turnip
Rapistrum rugosum
Also known as Stem turnip, German turnip, Kohlrabi, Rapistrum rugosum var. microcarpum
Zones 4–9Sun Full SunWater ModerateCare Low
Native Plants · Brassica · Annual · Wildflower · Mediterranean · Low-Maintenance · Garden-Weed · Drought-Tolerant · Outdoor
Pet-safeBeginner-friendlyAttracts pollinators
Currently out of stock everywhereStock updated 9/6/2026
Ball-turnip is a hardy Mediterranean annual that thrives in full sun to part shade with average moisture. Water every 7–10 days and allow the soil surface to dry slightly between waterings. It requires minimal attention once established and performs best in well-drained garden beds.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 6 hours
- Watering
- Water moderately until soil is moist; allow top inch to dry between waterings · Every 7-10 days
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 7.5–8
- Temperature
- -20°F to 90°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed, Division
Hardiness
USDA 4a-9b
12345678910111213
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 3 ft
- Spread
- 2 ft
- Spacing
- 12 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Albania, Algeria, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Argentina South, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Bulgaria, California, Canary Is., Cape Provinces, Central European Rus, Chile Central
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies
Sources: trefle, usda
Buy this plant
No nurseries currently list it
No nursery lists Ball-turnip right now.