Flower · GBIF taxon 3042291
dame's rocket
Hesperis matronalisAlso known as Sweet Rocket, Mother-of-the-Evening, Dame's Violet, Damask Violet
Dame's rocket is a tall biennial mustard known for its fragrant, four-petaled flowers that range in color from pale pink and deep violet to pure white. Native to Eurasia, it releases a sweet scent near dusk to lure nocturnal pollinators like moths. Though widely planted in flower mixes, it quickly spreads into damp woodlands and riverbanks, often outcompeting native wildflowers.
FragrantIntroducedFlowering
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthesis)
Predators
- Cabbage White Caterpillar
- Flea Beetles
- White-tailed Deer
ThreatsHerbicides, mechanical weeding, habitat clearing
HabitatsDamp woodlands, roadsides, riverbanks, forest edges
Life spanBiennial or short-lived perennial
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderBrassicales
- FamilyBrassicaceae
- GenusHesperis
- SpeciesHesperis matronalis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Petal Count: Count the flower petals: dame's rocket has four petals, while look-alike phlox has five.
- Evening Fragrance: Visit flower patches at twilight when the blooms release a rich, sweet perfume to attract moths.
- Invasive Management: Avoid planting in seed mixes, as seeds easily escape gardens into native habitats.
Look-Alike (c) Tom Scavo, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Invasive Relative (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Kevin Krebs, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kevin Krebs · cc-by
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