Oryza rufipogon
Images by part: leaf (2) · flower (0) · fruit (0) · bark (1) · habit (2) · other (0)

Oryza rufipogon

Red rice · Wild rice · Brownbeard Rice · Wild red rice · Brown-beard rice

Tier 2 Difficulty: easy Water: low Light: full_sun
Temperature
20–37 °C
Soil pH
5–7
Hardiness
Zone 9–11
Click count
2
Observations
5

Description

Source: wikipedia (CC BY-SA)

Oryza rufipogon is a species of flowering plant in the family Poaceae. It is known as brownbeard rice, wild rice, and red rice. In 1965, Oryza nivara was separated off from O. rufipogon. The separation has been questioned, and now many sources consider O. nivara to be a synonym of O. rufipogon. O. nivara may be treated as the annual form of O. rufipogon.

Care Guide

💧 Water

Brown-beard rice flourishes in environments with high moisture, needing weekly watering for optimal growth. It is related to cultivated rice and is usually grown outdoors. Consistent hydration throughout its growing season is essential to ensure lush development and a good yield.

☀️ Light Full sun

Brown-beard rice is a perennial herb that prefers sunny spots and originates from open habitats, commonly growing in meadows and grasslands. It favors full sun but can also tolerate partial sun.

Ideal: Full sun
🌡️ Temperature 20–37.8°C

Brown-beard rice comes from tropical areas, where the climate is generally warm and humid. Because of this, it is well adapted to heat and high humidity. It is sensitive to sudden temperature shifts and prefers a steady thermal environment, so avoiding temperature swings indoors is important. It typically cannot tolerate cold and needs higher temperatures to grow; if the surrounding temperature falls too low, the plant may stop growing or even die.

Ideal temperature: 20–37.8°C
💨 Humidity
Humidity:
🪴 Soil 5-7
Soil pH: 5-7
🌱 Fertilizer

To achieve optimal growth, Brown-beard rice needs three fertilizer applications: one before planting, one about one month after the seedlings emerge, and a final one 1 to 1.5 months after the second. Some Brown-beard rice varieties also benefit from extra fertilizer at planting to promote rapid growth.

🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning

Brown-beard rice grows well in aquatic environments and benefits from pruning in early spring. During pruning, focus on removing dead or overcrowded growth to improve light and air circulation, while avoiding cutting new green shoots. This practice enhances the plant's health, reduces the risk of disease, and encourages vigorous regrowth, leading to better yields.

🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity

Characteristics

Plant Type
Grass
Life Cycle
Perennial, Annual
Genus
Oryza
Family
Poaceae
Hardiness Zone
9-11
Mature Height
1.52 m
Mature Spread
30 cm to 49 cm
Leaf Color
Green, Blue
Leaf Type
Deciduous
Flower Color
Yellow, Green, Brown
Flower Size
20.32 cm
Bloom Time
Summer
Planting Time
Spring, Summer, Autumn
Harvest Time
Late summer, Early fall, Mid fall
Native Area
Nepal, Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Philippines, Bangladesh, Thailand, China

Tags (3)

Common Names (6)

en Red rice
en Wild rice
en Brownbeard Rice
en Wild red rice
en Brown-beard rice
en Common wild rice