Hesperis matronalis
sweet rocket
Delivery options
- Seed Packets (only) £2.95
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil or general-purpose compost for containers
- Rate of growth: average to fast
- Flowering period: May to October
- Hardiness: fully hardy (but short-lived)
Sweet rocket is most at home in an informal herbaceous border, or when left to naturalise in a wildlife-friendly garden. The deliciously scented, pale lilac flowers form in loose clusters and are attractive to bees and other beneficial insects. Their perfume will fill the air late spring and early summer evenings. They are also edible and look great sprinkled over salads. Although relatively short-lived, it self-seeds freely.
Garden care:
Pinch out the growing tips to encourage bushier growth and keep well watered. Feed with a good, high potash fertiliser (such as Tomorite) on a regular basis throughout summer. Dead-heading regularly will help prolong the flowering season, but if you want them to self-seed, allow some of the seed heads to develop fully.
Sow seed where it is to grow in late spring, after the worst of the frosts have passed. Prepare the bed well first and then surface sow, thinning the seedlings out as they grow to allow 30cm between each plant.