Dame's Rocket or Dame's Violet, (Hesperis matronalis) Large, showy (3/4-1" wide) purple flowers (sometimes pink or white); stamens and style mostly concealed in the flower tube. Flowers fragrant. 2-3' high. Escaped from gardens to fields and roadsides. Spring and summer. Mustard family. Newcomb's Wildflower Guide, Lawrence Newcomb.
naturalized in surrounding woodlands and meadows. And, while I enjoy seeing its lovely pink/purple and white blossoms along roads in my region, it is considered invasive in most states. Dame’s rocket is a biennial, meaning it blooms in the second year. However, it is a self- sower. If it’s allowed to drop seed, you’ll soon enjoy a continuous yearly bloom, as with a perennial plant. The leaves and seeds of dame’s rocket are edible, used for medicinal purposes, and purported to be endowed with aphrodisiac properties. Another unique characteristic of this plant is that it bears blossoms and seed pods simultaneously. Its names are interesting as well. The Latin word hesperis refers to evening, the time when the flowers emit a fragrance that’s a cross between cloves and violets. And matronalis comes from the Roman Matronalia, a celebration of Juno, the goddess of motherhood and childbirth. As for its common name, “dame” is no surprise, given its feminine origins. But, where does the rocket come from? It’s probably derived from the plant’s edible leaves. You see, in Europe, its cousin arugula is called “rocket.” GardenersPath.com
numerous common names, including dame's rocket, damask-violet, dame's-violet,[1] dames-wort, dame's gilliflower, night-scented gilliflower, queen's gilliflower, rogue's gilliflower, summer lilac, sweet rocket, mother-of-the-evening, and winter gilliflower. These plants are biennials or short-lived perennials, native to Eurasia and cultivated in many other areas of the world for their attractive, spring-blooming flowers. In some of those areas, it has escaped from cultivation and become a weed species. The genus name Hesperis was probably given because the scent of the flowers becomes more conspicuous towards evening. It is considered an invasive species in some areas. Four U.S. states have placed legal restrictions on it: In Colorado, it is classed as a noxious weed (B-list), with plans for eradication or management varying by area and year. In Connecticut, it is classified as invasive and banned, making it illegal to move, sell, purchase, transplant, cultivate, or distribute the plant. In Massachusetts, it is prohibited. In Wisconsin, it is classed as restricted, i.e. an invasive species that is already widely established in the state, and causes, or has the potential to cause significant environmental or economic harm. Wikipedia.org
(Brassocaceae) growing 1.5 to 3 feet in height. The leaves are oblong, sharply toothed, and alternately arranged. Leaves decrease in size as they ascend the stem. The pink, magenta, or white flowers have large loose, fragrant clusters with four petals that bloom May to June. Many seeds are produced in long, narrow fruits. The seeds of Dane’s rocket are spread mechanically when the dehiscent fruits open. The seeds are also eaten and dispersed by ground-foraging birds. Habitat: It grows in moist woodlands, woodland edges, roadsides, railroad right-of-ways, disturbed sites, waste ground, thickets, and open areas. Distribution: It is reported invasive in CO, CT, IN, MD, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA, WI, and WV. Invasive.org Wildflower Menu HOME . |
Dame's rocket. Photos from the G&U Railroad right-of-way in Milford, between Vernon Street and South Cedar Street. |