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*Hesperis matronalis Linnaeus. Common name: Dame's Rocket, Dame's Violet. Phenology: Apr-Aug. Habitat: Bottomlands, roadsides, moist forests. Distribution: Native of Europe.

ID notes: The flowers are white or pink.

Origin/Endemic status: Europe

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, F, FNA7, G, GrPl, Il, K1, K3, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WV, Al-Shehbaz (1988d), Rollins (1993), Stace (2021)

Links to other floras: = Hesperis matronalis - FNA7

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
  • Great Plains: FACU
  • Midwest: FACU
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACU

Heliophily ⓘ: 4

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image of plant© Gary P. Fleming
image of plant© Sandy Wolkenberg, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sandy Wolkenberg source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
image of plantno rights reserved, uploaded by Guerric Haché source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Sandy Wolkenberg, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sandy Wolkenberg source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image of plantno rights reserved, uploaded by Guerric Haché source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Sandy Wolkenberg, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sandy Wolkenberg source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Branson Khounvichith, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Branson Khounvichith source CC-BY-SA | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Sandy Wolkenberg, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sandy Wolkenberg source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect, naturalized biennial/short-lived perennial found in bottomlands, moist forests and along roadsides. Native of Europe.

Stems: Stems much-branched above and hairy.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, short-petiolate to sessile (above), 2-8 in. long, lance-shaped to narrowly oval, with small sharp teeth on the margins and hairy.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers on hairy stalks in 6- to 18-in.-long terminal and axillary racemes, pink to lavender (occasionally white), 3/4-1 in. wide, consisting of 4 spreading oblong petals and 4 linear-lance-shaped sepals (stamens and pistil not easily seen); very fragrant, especially in evening.

Fruits: Fruit an erect, slender, linear pod.

Comments:

Height: 2-3 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect, naturalized biennial/short-lived perennial found in bottomlands, moist forests and along roadsides. Native of Europe.

stems: Stems much-branched above and hairy.

leaves: Leaves alternate, short-petiolate to sessile (above), 2-8 in. long, lance-shaped to narrowly oval, with small sharp teeth on the margins and hairy.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers on hairy stalks in 6- to 18-in.-long terminal and axillary racemes, pink to lavender (occasionally white), 3/4-1 in. wide, consisting of 4 spreading oblong petals and 4 linear-lance-shaped sepals (stamens and pistil not easily seen); very fragrant, especially in evening.

fruits: Fruit an erect, slender, linear pod.

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: southern Europe to Siberia