African Mustard Plant Care
Malcolmia africana (L.) W.T.Aiton
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Strigosella africana, or African mustard, is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. It is an annual plant which ranges from the Mediterranean Basin through western and Central Asia, the Caucasus, Ukraine, southern and Eastern European Russia, and Mongolia to India and China.
Full sun to partial shade
At a glance
How do you care for African Mustard?
African Mustard grows best in full sun to partial shade.
What Is the African Mustard?
African Mustard (Malcolmia africana) belongs to the Brassicaceae family within the Malcolmia genus. African Mustard is also known as African Wallflower.
African Mustard displays a low rosette, clumping growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . African Mustard produces small, delicate flowers in shades of pink, purple, or white.
What Light Does the African Mustard Need?
African Mustard thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Soil Mix Works Best for a African Mustard?
Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for African Mustard to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a African Mustard?
Repot every 1-2 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a African Mustard?
African Mustard can be propagated through seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to sea stock plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the African Mustard Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list African Mustard, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the African Mustard?
African Mustard is susceptible to aphids, cabbage worms, flea beetles. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
African Mustard is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Malcolmia genus — compare its care with other Malcolmia species on PlantoScan.
Malcolmia is part of the Brassicaceae plant family — browse all Brassicaceae genera and species.
African Mustard thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Malcolmia africana (L.) W.T.Aiton, family Brassicaceae (first published in Hort. Kew., ed. 2 [W.T. Aiton] 4: 121. 1812) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list African Mustard, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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