Each flower is about 1.5–2 cm across and has four petals in the shape of a four-leaf clover when in full bloom. The lower leaves of the canola plant form a loose rosette at the base; they are bluish-green, lobed, and attached by short stalks. Further up the stem, the leaves become smaller and have smoother edges. The upper leaves have no stalks and clasp directly onto the stem.
Seeing pictures of the plant reminded me of when I was once looking out the window of a TER train when suddenly the vast yellow haze of the sun shined on a field of canola and filled the train. At peak flowering, the top of the crop forms a continuous, bright yellow layer of flowers roughly a foot thick and standing over four feet tall! Grown together, the canola plant gives the sensation of a luscious and prosperous land.
Canola grows best in modern climates with moderate rainfall and high humidity. It is grown in Canada and the northern United States (e.g. in North Dakota), as well as parts of Europe (including France), China, India and Australia. It is often planted in the spring in colder regions and as a winter crop in milder climates. Although the Brittany region has high rainfall, the acidic soils that make Brittany ideal for growing buckwheat for galettes and raising livestock are poorly suited for the canola plant.
