*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, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WV, Al-Shehbaz (1988d), Rollins (1993), Stace (2021). Basionym: Hesperis matronalis L. 1753
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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Horticultural Information
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
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