Sweet Rocket 'White' Seeds
If you want a plant that works the "night shift," this is it. Hesperis matronalis (Sweet Rocket or Dame's Violet) is a traditional cottage garden favourite that produces tall, branching spikes of pure white, four-petaled flowers.
During the day, it is a beautiful, airy filler that brightens up shady corners. But as dusk falls, it releases a powerful, heady fragrance reminiscent of violets and cloves. The white flowers seem to glow in the twilight, attracting moths and guiding you down the garden path. It is the perfect bridge plant, filling the "hungry gap" between the last tulips and the first peonies.
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🌿 Understanding the Plant
Hesperis is a Short-Lived Perennial (often grown as a Biennial).
It behaves like a Foxglove or Wallflower. You sow it in summer, it builds strength over winter, and flowers spectacularly the following spring/early summer. While the original plant may die after a few years, it is a brilliant self-seeder, ensuring you have a permanent, wandering colony in your garden.
Top Tip: This is a woodland edge plant, meaning it is one of the few scented flowers that thrives in partial shade.
🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow
Hesperis is robust and unfussy, perfect for beginners.
Germination:
Sow outdoors in a seedbed from May to July. Scatter seeds thinly and cover lightly. Keep moist. Germination takes 14-21 days. Alternatively, sow indoors in spring for planting out in autumn.
Where to Sow:
It loves dappled shade or sun. It prefers cool, moist, well-drained soil. It is perfect for planting under deciduous trees or at the back of a border where its height (90cm) can shine.
Care While Growing:
Move the young plants to their final flowering position in Autumn (Oct). They are very hardy and need a cold period to initiate flowering. Deadhead the main spike after flowering to encourage side shoots, but leave a few to self-seed!
📋 Plant Specifications
| Latin Name | Hesperis matronalis var. albiflora |
| Common Name | Sweet Rocket / Dame's Violet |
| Hardiness | H7 (Very Hardy) |
| Light Required | Part Shade / Sun ⛅ |
| Height | ↕️ 80cm - 100cm (Tall) |
| Spread | ↔️ 45cm |
| Spacing | 🌱 40cm apart |
| Great for | 🌙 Moon Gardens 🦋 Moths & Butterflies 🌳 Woodland Edges 👃 Scent |
| Seed Count | Approx. 500 seeds per packet |
🤝 Perfect Garden Companions
Sweet Rocket blooms in late spring (May/June), making it the perfect partner for other early summer favourites:
- 💜 Alliums (Purple Sensation): The Floating Spheres. The purple globes of Alliums look magical floating above the frothy white clouds of Sweet Rocket. They flower at exactly the same time.
- 🦊 Foxgloves (Digitalis): The Woodland Look. Plant white Hesperis alongside pink or purple Foxgloves. Both plants love dappled shade and provide height, creating a classic, naturalistic cottage border.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Sow in summer. Plant out in autumn. Flowers the following spring (May-July).
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Outdoors | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||||||
| Plant Out | 🌱 | 🌱 | ||||||||||
| Flowers (Yr 2) | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 |
⚠️ Edibility Note
The young leaves of Sweet Rocket are edible and can be added to salads for a slightly bitter, mustard-like kick. The flowers are also edible and make a pretty garnish.
🏆 Officially Recognised Excellence
This is a superstar plant for biodiversity. Hesperis matronalis is listed on the RHS Plants for Pollinators list and is a crucial food source for the Orange Tip butterfly.
- Regular price
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£2.10 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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£2.10
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