(Hesperis matronalis ‘Dame's Rocket’)

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Dame's Rocket is a short-lived perennial/biennial flower native to Europe but can be found growing in meadows and naturalized areas in most of the United States. When fully grown, this plant can grow up to 2-3' and features luscious dark-green leaves and delicate lavender flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, is used to flavor perfumes, has medicinal properties, is resistant to deer, self-sows, and is used as a cut flower! 

  • General Information
  • Germination
  • Seedlings
  • Harvesting
  • Seed Saving
  • Culinary
  • Medicinal
  • Companion Planting
  • Other Uses
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Family: Brassicaceae

Genus: Hesperis

Species: matronalis

Variety: Dame's Rocket

Also Known As: Garden Rocket, Dame's Violet, Mother-Of-The-Evening, Sweet Rocket

Native to: Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, France, Italy, Krym, North Caucasus, South European Russi, Transcaucasus, Turkey, Turkey-in-Europe, Ukraine.

Introduced into: Alabama, Albania, Alberta, Altay, Argentina South, Arkansas, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, British Columbia, California, Central European Rus, Chile South, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Denmark, District of Columbia, East European Russia, Falkland Is., Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ireland, Kansas, Kazakhstan, Kentucky, Kirgizstan, Kuril Is., Lebanon-Syria, Maine, Manitoba, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, Newfoundland, North Carolina, North Dakota, North European Russi, Northwest European R, Norway, Nova Scotia, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Poland, Primorye, Prince Edward I., Québec, Rhode I., Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Siberia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Xinjiang, Yugoslavia.

Grown as: Biennial
 
Maturity (Blooms): May-August

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade

Water: Medium. Well drained.

Soil Moisture: Medium. Rich, consistently moist, well-drained soil.

Maintenance: Low

Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Attracts Bees, Butterflies, and Hummingbirds as well as being Deer resistant. 

Containers?: Yes.

Height: 12-24”
 
Spacing: 40”

Sow Depth: Press into soil surface.
 
USDA Zone: 3-9

Produces: dark green foliage and fragrant 4 petaled lavender 1/2” flower heads.

Garden Uses: Excellent plant for meadows, naturalized areas or cottage gardens. May also be grown in borders, but foliage tends to disappear after flowering, thus necessitating the use of annuals or late-developing perennials to fill in the gaps.

Note: We cannot sell this seed to customers in CO, CT, MA, NH, NY, or WI.
​Direct sow in early spring, pressing the seed into the surface of the soil; keep it moist until germination. To start indoors, sow the seed on the surface of the soil in a flat; keep the soil moist and at a temperature of 70-75 degrees F until germination, which usually occurs within 21-30 days. Transplant the seedlings after the last chance of frost.
Though this plant tolerates some drought, it will flourish with regular moisture. In its first year of growth, it will produce mostly leaves; full bloom usually occurs in its second year. It does not appreciate excess heat and humidity. This plant will adapt to almost any soil with adequate moisture. This plant self-seeds heavily, and can become very aggressive. To help prevent this, remove the spent flower heads before the seed pods develop; this will also encourage a second blooming. These flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, while resisting deer. 
​For fresh flowers, cut long stems of flowers that have just opened and place them in water immediately; strip the leaves that will fall below the water.
As the flower cluster comes to the end of its blooming, the plant will produce very long, thin green pods that eventually split in half to release mature brown seeds. Remove the pods when as soon as the seed has ripened but before they split, and spread them out to dry away from direct sunlight. Crush or shake them lightly to release the seeds. Store the cleaned seed in a cool, dry place.
Young leaves: raw. Rich in vitamin C, they are used as a cress substitute in salads. A rather bitter flavor, though many people like the extra tang it gives to salads. For culinary purposes, the leaves should be picked before the plant flowers.

Seeds: The seed can be sprouted and added to salads. The seed contains 50% of an edible oil - there is a potential for cultivation.
The leaves are antiscorbutic, diaphoretic and diuretic. They are best harvested when the plant is in flower.
Project Purity Seeds can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Companion Planting

Companions: Bee Balm, Speedwell, Hydrangea, Columbine, and Common foxglove.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems.
​An essential oil from the seed is used in perfumery. The plant is cultivated for this purpose.

Suggested Varieties

(Monarda citriodora ‘Lemon’)

Lemon Bee Balm is a native annual herb that grows in sandy/rocky prairies or along roadsides throughout the southern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 24-36” and features square-like stems, narrow 2” lance-shaped leaves, and globular clusters of two-lipped flowers that are light pink to white. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, tolerates drought, makes insecticides, is resistant to deer, is both edible and medicinal, and is used as a cut flower!
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(Monarda didyma 'Scarlet')

Scarlet Bee Balm is a native annual herb that is commonly found growing in moist woods, and along streams and rivers throughout the eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 24-48” and features square like stems, 3-6” lance shaped, medium green leaves, and globular clusters of two-lipped aromatic flowers that are scarlet red. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and pollinating moths, is resistant to deer and rabbit, is both edible and medicinal, and is great as a cut flower!
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(Monarda punctata ‘Spotted’)

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Spotted Bee Balm is a native clump-forming biennial herb that is commonly found growing in dry soils of prairies, and in sandy plains throughout the Midwest, southern, and eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 12-24” and features 1-2' branching stems, 3” oblong, teethed, medium green leaves, showy pink bracts, and small, pale yellow flowers that are spotted with purple. This plant attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, tolerates drought, is resistant to deer, is both edible and medicinal, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
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(Aquilegia caerulea ‘McKana Giants’)

McKana Giants Columbine Mix is a native clump-forming bushy perennial flower that is native to the northwestern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 2-3' and features fern-like green leaves, and 3” upward-facing 5-petaled white, pink, blue, yellow, purple, and red flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, it attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and pollinating moths, it resists deer and rabbits, self-sows, and is great as a cut flower! 
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Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata 'Nora Barlow'

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Nora Barlow Columbine is a semi-hardy, cool weather, short-lived perennial flower that is native to Europe but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 24-36” and features double pink blooms with white tips which look like small dahlias. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and pollinating moths, tolerates deer and rabbits, self-sows, and is used as a cut flower!
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(Aquilegia oxysepala ‘Oriental’)

Oriental Columbine is a perennial flower native to northern Asia. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 2-3' and features dark green, rounded leaflets and nodding 1” blooms with maroon sepals, hooked spurs, and pale yellow inner petals. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and pollinating moths, resists deer and rabbits, self-sows, and is used as a cut flower! 
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(Aquilegia canadensis ‘Wild’)

Wild Columbine is a native perennial flower that grows in rocky woods, ledges, and slopes throughout the mid to eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 2' and features 1-2” red and yellow, drooping bell-shaped blooms. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and pollinating moths, resists deer and rabbits, self-sows, and is used as a cut flower!  
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(Digitalis purpurea ‘Foxglove’)

Foxglove is a biennial/short-lived perennial flower that is native to eastern Europe but can be commonly found growing in open woods, woodland clearings, moorland and heath margins, sea-cliffs, rocky mountain slopes, and hedge banks throughout the northeastern and northwestern United States. At maturity, this plant features thick, textured leaves at the base and tall spikes of tubular, dangling 2-3” blossoms of rose pink or purple with tiny contrasting spots. This plant attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer and rabbits, and is used as a cut flower! 
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