Dame's Rocket

Information

Hesperis matronalis - Brassicaceae Family - Perennial

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Identification

Flowers: Flowers have 4 petals arranged in a cross pattern. They are ¾ to 1” in diameter, range in color from purple to pink to white, and are very aromatic.
Seeds: Fruits are many seeded, long and narrow. Seeds are small (3-4 mm long), angular, grooved and dark reddish-brown.
Leaves: Leaves are pointed and lance-shaped, 2-6 inches long, wider at the base, and attached alternately along the stem.
Flowering Time: Mid-May through June.
Life cycle: Produces a basal rosette the first year and flowers the following year. Plants bloom and produce large quantities of seed from May through July. Individual plants are able to produce both flowers and seeds at the same time.

Impacts

Its ability to produce large numbers of seeds allows Dame’s Rocket to spread very quickly through an area.
Dame’s Rocket has no natural predators in North America and is therefore able to outcompete many native plants.
Tends to form thick monocultures and can starve an area for resources, reducing local biodiversity.

Most effective control methods

Small infestations of Dame’s Rocket can be effectively controlled by hand pulling before the seed pods form. To limit spread, pulled plants should be burned or disposed of in the trash.
Dame’s Rocket can be easily controlled with several herbicides including Glyphosate (Roundup). However, these herbicides are nonselective. To avoid damage to surrounding plants, they should be applied in late fall or early spring.
There are currently no biocontrol agents available for Dame’s Rocket in the US.

Dame's rocket: flowers

Dame's rocket: seedling

Dame's rocket: plant

Dame's rocket: flowers can range from white to purple in color

Dame's rocket: infestation

Dame's rocket: foliage

Dame's rocket: roots

Dame's rocket: seeds and pods