Flower
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
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyAutotrophic (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
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
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.