May 11, 2008 - Dames Rocket
Welcome to the Nature Notebook.

Look for a Mediterranean native wildflower blooming along roadsides and in old fields. The plant, Dame’s Rocket, was introduced into this country from European gardens in the 17th century and has become a naturalized citizen here. There is no doubt that it adds a touch of beauty where it blooms from mid-May through mid-June. The three- to four-foot tall plant has showy flowers ranging in color from white to several shades of pink to purple. Often confused with taller varieties of phlox, Dame’s Rocket is in the mustard family, related to cabbage, broccoli, radish and wintercress. It has four petals on each flower instead of phlox’s five. The flowers host butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds. Although it does provide a beautiful sight each year, it tends to push out some of our native plants species.

This is PPL's naturalist, Jon Beam, with the Nature Notebook for WVIA.