Field ManualAll plants

Photo: Cbaile19, via Wikimedia CommonsLicense: CC0

Dame's rocket

Hesperis matronalis

Pet & Human Safety

People: No hazard foundPets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them
Hazardous parts
No hazardous parts found.
Preparation
Not applicable; this is an ornamental plant.
Hazard type
Not yet checked.
Hazard route
none named by our sources
How complete this information is
The safety information on this page is partial. Where a source covers a point, it is shown; where none does, the page says so.

Toxic to pets
No ASPCA entry found.

Neither ASPCA nor NC State lists a pet-safety verdict for this plant. Not listed means no verdict was found, not that it's safe. Keep pets from eating it and call a vet or the ASPCA Poison Control line if a pet seems unwell. ASPCA (species and common names): no page. NC State: no tags.

PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

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Care

Hardiness zones

USDA zones 3 to 8 (NC State Extension)

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Water needs

low

Mature size

1 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide (NC State Extension).

Where it comes from

Southern France to the Caucasus (NC State Extension)

Soil & Drainage
Pruning & Flush Rhythm
Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

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Anatomy & Guilds

Botanical Anatomy & Characteristics

How the flowers and leaves are built and which pollinators visit, where we have them.

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Field Doctor

Field Doctor

What can go wrong with this plant and what to do about it, where we have them.

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Vintage Plates

Vintage Plates

Old botanical drawings from public libraries are in the app, for plants where we have them.

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Sources

  1. NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, Hesperis matronalis
  2. Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) name file, dated 2026-06-04

How we choose sources

Wishlists live in the app

Wishlists are part of the Plot & Petal app, which is coming soon. Nothing is added to a wishlist from this page.

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