Oryza sativa
Field Crops & Grasses

Rice

Oryza sativa

Rice · Light: Full sun · Water: High. Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.

LightFull sun
WaterHigh
DifficultyModerate
CategoryField Crops & Grasses
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Climate matters. This page is a practical baseline. Confirm cultivar, local frost/heat conditions, mature size and regional restrictions before planting.

Rice — Growing reference

Scientific nameOryza sativa
Seed germination (days)7–14
Soil temperature for germination (°C)21.1–32.2
First harvest or flowering (days)90–150
Measured fromSeed
Plant spacing (cm)15.2–22.9
Mature height (cm)45.7–121.9
Mature spread (cm)15.2–22.9
USDA hardiness zones8–11
LightFull sun
WaterHigh
Sowing methodindoor-start

Growing directions

Start seeds in shallow flats of moist potting mix at 70–80°F, then transplant 6–9-inch seedlings to flooded paddies, water gardens, or large containers filled with heavy garden soil and submerged under 2–4 inches of standing water; upland (dry-land) varieties can be grown in moist garden beds without flooding but require consistently wet soil throughout the season. Rice matures in 90–150 days depending on variety — grain is ready when the panicle droops and grains turn golden-yellow. Drain standing water 3–4 weeks before harvest and allow the plant to dry on the stalk before cutting. Threshing by hand is practical for small plots.

Source and local conditions

Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.

OpenPlantDB · rice

Source & verification

OpenPlantDB · CC0

Open reference source ↗