Hesperis matronalis Mix - Dame's Rocket seeds

Hesperis matronalis 'Mix' is a mix of Dame's Rocket with white or mauve-lilac flowers. Generally biennial, this plant, also known as Garden Rocket, is appreciated for its long spring to summer flowering, which releases a sweet fragrance in the evening. Sought after by bees and butterflies, it has a place in cottage gardens, naturalistic or rustic flower beds. It thrives in partial shade, in ordinary soil where it will self-seed.

Dame's Rocket is an edible plant belonging to the brassicaceae family, like rapeseed or mustard. It is native to central and southern Europe, as well as boreal and western Asia. In theory perennial, it is most often grown as a biennial. This herbaceous plant has an upright, sparsely branched habit, except in its upper part. It reaches 60 to 80 cm high when flowering, with a diameter of 30 cm. Its foliage is deciduous and dark green with toothed margins. It consists of large alternate, lanceolate leaves without petioles. Flowering occurs from May-June to July-August. The nectar-rich flowers are delicately fragrant in the evening. They are loved by bees and butterflies, such as sphinx moths, which ensure pollination. They are grouped in terminal clusters of small single flowers with 4 sepals, 4 petals, and 6 stamens, ranging from mauve to pale purple to pure white. The fruits are small siliques.

Dame's Rocket self-seeds abundantly and it is not uncommon to find plants at a good distance from the original plant. For this reason, it is perfectly suited to slightly "wild" gardens. Plant it near pathways and terraces to enjoy its delightful wallflower fragrance on summer evenings. It is often overlooked, but it can easily be sown in pots in groups of 3 or 4 plants. For example, associate them with daffodils and tulips, or in an impressionist tableau, like Monet's garden in Giverny, alongside bearded irises, snapdragons, bellflowers, or goldenrods.

Properties and uses: Dame's Rocket flowers can be used in potpourris. The young leaves and flowers are edible, but they may be a bit too bitter for some palates.