Hesperis

( HESP - er - iss )

At-A-Glance Information

These old-fashioned flowers are commonly known as Dame's Rocket and species need full sun or light shade to perform well in the garden. They require regular water and are native to central and southern Europe. Many plants bear showy, fragrant flowers in shades of purple, pink and white. Use Dame's Rocket in natural gardens, wildflower or pollinator beds, in mixed borders, or grown in containers around patios, where their impressive inflorescences can be admired from close-up.

Hesperis species and varietals

The genus Hesperis is a member of the plant family Brassicaceae and includes 53 species. The genus is named after the Greek word for evening, hespera, due to the fact that flowers become more fragrant at night. Dame's Rocket grows best in USDA hardiness zones 3-8 or Sunset growing zones A2, A3 and 1-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Hesperis kotschyi (Kotschy's Damask Flower)
This species is endemic to southern Türkiye, and is a short-lived perennial plant that produces lilac-colored flowers. These plants commonly grow in rocky soils or rubble. The species is named for Austrian botanist Theodor Kotschy. Plants can reach between 2 and 3 feet tall when in bloom.

Hesperis matronalis (Dame's Rocket, Damask-Violet, Dame's Violet, Dameswort, Dame's Gilliflower, Night-Scented Gilliflower, Rogue's Gilliflower, Mother-of-the-Evening)
This species is widely grown as a garden ornamental. They form short-lived perennials or biennials, and are valued for their attractive flowers that boom in springtime. Dame's Rocket gets to 3 feet tall and wide, and has lilac to purple flowers that are fragrant at nighttime. It looks and behaves somewhat similarly to Matthiola in the garden. These plants will get a bit woody with age, but are easily replaced by younger plants. Varieties are sold that have white and double-flowers. This species is considered invasive across much of North America, including the midwestern and northeastern United States and regions of Canada.

Caring for Hesperis

Plant these biennial flowers in a space in spring or summertime. They do well when direct-sown, and do not typically like to be transplanted. It is recommended that for best coverage and airflow, individual plants are spaced at least 10 inches apart. Situate Sweet Rockets in a space in the garden that receives full sun to partial shade. Ideally, they should be getting between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for best flowering, though they appreciate some afternoon shade in warmer climates. Soil should be well-draining, moderately fertile, and have a pH of between 5.0 and 7.0. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. After planting, lay down a thick layer of organic mulch to suppress weed growth, maintain soil temperatures, and increase soil moisture retention. Water Hesperis plants regularly, keeping the soil relatively moist at all times. A good rule of thumb is to irrigate whenever the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch.

As these flowers continue to grow taller and taller, they may need some extra support in the form of a stake if they are not grown in a dense planting area. Fertilize yearly in early springtime with a application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Deadhead spent blooms as they appear to tidy the appearance of plants and encourage continuous blooming. This will also prevent these sometimes invasive plants from self-seeding and escaping the bounds of the garden. Cut back leggy or overcrowded growth to maintain a good appearance. Younger plants can be pinched to encourage a bushier form to develop, as well. These flowers will form clumps over time, which will need to be divided every few years in fall. This will rejuvenate plants and promote a healthier growth overall. Replace plants when they get overgrown and woody. Individual plants are widely considered biennials, forming foliage in their first year and producing flowers in their second. They are typically composted after their second year in the ground or left in place as a soil enrichment. These flowers will re-seed freely in the landscape, and form clumps over time, providing new plants for the garden indefinitely.

Harvesting Hesperis
The best time of the year to harvest Hesperis flowers for fresh arrangements is when they are fully in bloom, which typically occurs between April and August. Harvest inflorescences when the first flowers on a stem begin to open. The rest of the blooms on the spike will continue to develop after they are severed from the plant. The best time to harvest is in the early morning or late evening when temperatures are at their coolest. Cut flower stems at their base using sharp, clean shears or snips, remove the lower leaves from the stem, and drop them in a bucket of cool water. These stems will last for between 7 and 10 days in a vase.

Propagation

Hesperis, or Sweet Rocket, can be propagated either by division or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Hesperis flowers, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Hesperis by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
In either late winter or early springtime, get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Hesperis by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil, compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few (2-3) years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:

Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the root(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
Start to tease apart the roots with your fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section attached.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water thoroughly.
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.

Hesperis seed pods form on inflorescences when blooms have faded, and point upwards. They are brown and dry when mature.

Hesperis seeds are brown and oblong.

Problems and Pests

Certain species are considered invasive in some regions; see the species descriptions above for more information. Check with local authorities before planting. Hesperis plants have no serious pest or disease problems in the garden. For information on commonly-encountered pests and diseases in the landscape, consult the following pages:

Pests & Pest Management

Plant Issues