Dame’s Rocket

Hesperis matronalis

Dame’s Rocket — Woodland Edge Bloom
Pale petals open toward filtered light along a shaded trail.
Four-petaled blossoms of white and lavender rise on slender stems, marking the return of early summer. Introduced from Europe, this graceful wildflower now brightens woodlands and meadows across Minnesota.

Family: Mustard (Brassicaceae)
Bloom time: May–July
Height: 1–3 ft (30–90 cm)
Petals: Four, rounded, white to lavender
Habitat: Moist woodland edges, roadsides, and streambanks; naturalized from Europe
Native range: Eurasia (introduced to North America)

Identification

Dame’s Rocket is often mistaken for native phlox but can be distinguished by its four-petaled flowers and slightly toothed lance-shaped leaves arranged alternately along a hairy stem. The blossoms open from clustered buds that shift from pale pink to lavender or white. Each flower forms a slender seedpod typical of the mustard family.

Ecology

This biennial or short-lived perennial readily naturalizes in disturbed areas, sometimes forming dense colonies. Though introduced, it provides early nectar for bees, butterflies, and moths.

Dame’s Rocket and a Young Garden Spider
Clusters of pale blossoms attract pollinators—and small hunters alike.
Four-petaled flowers in white and lavender rise above early-summer foliage, drawing bees and butterflies. Hidden among the blooms, a juvenile Black-and-Yellow Garden Spider waits for its chance among the nectar seekers.

In these photographs, a young Black-and-Yellow Garden Spider has taken advantage of the floral traffic, anchoring its fine silk between the blossoms.

Observation:
Dame’s Rocket thrives where sun meets shade and soil stays moist. Its blooms glow at twilight, releasing a faint fragrance that gave rise to its name—“Dame’s Rocket”, for the evening perfume noticed by Victorian gardeners.