Dame’s Rocket Heirloom Seeds (Hesperis matronalis) Fragrant violet and white flowers bloom in twilight; cottage garden favorite and pollinator magnet

Minimum: 100+ Seeds

Twilight Blooms & Old-World Fragrance – Dame’s Rocket (Hesperis matronalis)

Let your garden glow with nostalgic charm and sweet evening perfume. Dame’s Rocket (Hesperis matronalis) is an heirloom biennial that graces late spring and early summer with clusters of violet, lavender, and white blooms that release their fragrance most intensely at dusk. A favorite of cottage gardens for centuries, this elegant plant attracts bees by day and moths by night, becoming a dynamic nectar hub for both diurnal and nocturnal pollinators.

Native to Eurasia and naturalized across much of North America, Dame’s Rocket thrives in light shade to full sun and adds vertical interest with flower spikes that can reach 2–4 feet tall. Its delicate four-petaled blossoms (often mistaken for phlox) appear in waves, swaying with a softness that feels timeless.

Why Grow Dame’s Rocket Heirloom Seeds?

• Fragrant violet and white blooms from May to July

• Beloved heirloom flower with centuries of garden history

• Glows in twilight and moonlight, releasing scent in the evening

• Magnet for bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds

• Easy to grow in zones 3–9 and ideal for cottage gardens, wildflower meadows, woodland edges, and shaded pollinator beds

• Naturalizes gently in the landscape for soft, perennial beauty

Growing Tips from Generations of Gardeners:

Start Dame’s Rocket by direct sowing in late summer or fall for blooms the following spring, or sow indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost and transplant out. This biennial typically blooms in its second year, but with staggered planting, you can keep blooms going annually. It prefers moist, well-drained soil but is highly adaptable and even grows well along woodland paths or under taller perennials.

Deadhead to prolong blooming, or let some go to seed for self-sowing charm that returns each year without becoming invasive.

A Touch of Europe’s Romantic Past:

Dame’s Rocket has long been a symbol of feminine grace and beauty, hence its name, which nods to its association with noblewomen’s gardens. Once a staple in Elizabethan and Victorian borders, its scent was prized in moonlit courtyards and shaded herbaceous walkways. Today, it’s cherished by herbalists and wildlife gardeners alike, adding depth, fragrance, and movement to any space.

From its glowing petals to its intoxicating evening aroma, this plant is a living thread that connects modern gardens with centuries of floral tradition.

Looking for a flower that stirs the senses and supports your pollinators? Sow Dame’s Rocket and let your evenings bloom with elegance.