Hesperis matronalis is a biennial or short-live perennial plant, which has other common names like: dame's rocket, damask-violet, dame's gilliflower, night-scented gilliflower, queen's gilliflower, rogue's gilliflower, summer lilac, sweet rocket, mother-of-the-evening, and winter gilliflower.
Dame's Rocket is a showy flower with large, loose clusters of fragrant blooms, flowering from May to August.
The four petal flowers grow in loose fragrant clusters on 24 - 48 inches stalks. The leaves are oblong, sharply dentate, and alternately laid out. The leaves decrease in size as they move up on the stalk.
Dame's Rocket grows best in full sun to partial shade where soils are moist with good drainage.
The leaves, seeds and flowers of the plant are edible, but in moderation.
Hesperis matronalis attract bees, butterflies and birds.
Attention: Cannot ship this flower seed to Colorado.
- Plant Name: Dame's Rocket
- Taxonomy: Hesperis Matronalis
- Life Cycle: Perennial
- USDA Zones: 3 - 9
- Height: 24 - 48 inches
- Bloom Season: Late spring
- Bloom Color: Lilac shades
- Environment: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil Type: Well-drained, pH 6.1 - 7.5
- Deer Resistant: Yes
Package includes: Dame's Rocket 200 Seeds
- Temperature: 70 - 80F
- Average Germ Time: 10 - 30 days
- Light Required: No
- Depth: 1/16 inch
- Moisture: Keep moist until germination
- Plant Spacing: 8 - 12 inches
Starting Dame's Rocket from seeds is easy and fast. Sow Hesperis Matronalis seeds directly outdoors in prepared soil after all danger of frost has passed.
Prepare seedbed: remove all the weeds and till the soil to a depth of 8 to 12 inches to make the soil loose. Sprinkle seeds over the soil and lightly cover. Keep seeds moist but not wet until germination occurs. Transplant when they have three to four true leaves 8-12 inches apart.
They will grow in almost any soil, as long as it its kept moist. The plants do not like hot, humid weather, and will grow best in more northerly climates.
Keep soil most at all times. Fertilize every four to six weeks, for best performance.