MHG Volunteer Blog 20: Sweet Rocket

It's time for the latest blog from our dedicated team of volunteer gardeners at Pontefract Castle.

Find out more about their blog series here.

Today, the Medieval Herb Garden is looking really good! We have over 50 different varieties in flower.  

No weeding today! Caroline and Louis turned over the soil on the dry-stone wall (in case it rains) and then swept the wall and the drainage channel. They then tided-up around the lavender hedge. 

Carole gave the prostrate rosemary one of its regular 'haircuts'. She then topped up the sales barrow with more welsh onions, pink mop-head hydrangeas and houndstongue.

With the help of volunteer Callum, Carole then potted-on some more houndstongue seedlings.

The rosemary halfway through its regular 'haircut'

Plant of the Week - Sweet Rocket (hesperis matronalis)

Hesperis matronalis was given its modern scientific name by Carl Linnaeus in his book Species Plantarum in 1753. The name, Hesperis, means "of the evening", referring to the strong fragrance of the flowers late in the day. 

In the past, this species was known as "Damask violet" in English and "Viola Damascena" in Latin. These both refer to the city of Damascus in Syria. The French name "Violette de Damas" also refers to Damascus.

Damas was possibly mistaken for "dames", giving rise to the common name "dame's violet” and "dame’s rocket".

Sweet rocket in flower in the Medieval Herb Garden

Originally from Italy, sweet rocket is a biennial, erect, multi-stemmed, herbaceous plant. It will grow in any alkaline to neutral soil, and in any aspect, in full or partial shade. It grows to a height of 3ft and a width of 2ft.

The leaves are alternately arranged on upright stems and are oval-shaped. They have short hairs on the top and bottom surfaces which give the leaves a somewhat rough feel.

The flowers appear in late Spring of the plant's second year. They are various shades of mauve and purple and sometimes white. They are up to 2cm across and have 4 petals.

Sweet rocket later produces 2–4 inch seed pods, similar in shape to pea pods. It will readily self-seed.

Culinary uses of Sweet Rocket

The young leaves are slightly bitter. Despite this, they can be eaten in salads or cooked, if picked before the plant flowers. The leaves are available in the winter months when few other greens are available.

The flower buds are eaten for their spicy flavour and bright colour.

The seeds of the plant can also be sprouted and eaten in salads.

Folklore and other facts about Sweet Rocket

Sweet rocket was a favourite flower of the French Queen, Marie Antoinette.

In the Victorian language of flowers, it stood for deception. It gives out a lovely perfume in the evening, but in the daytime has none.

It is considered an invasive species in some areas. This is especially in the states of Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, Wisconsin and Connecticut, where it is banned. It is illegal to move, sell, purchase, transplant, cultivate, or distribute the plant in these places.

Oil from the seeds is used in making perfume.

In Europe, sweet rocket is host to the caterpillars of several butterfly species. These include the orange tip (anthocharis cardamines), large white (pieris brassicae) and small white (pieris rapae). They also attract moth caterpillars, such as plutella porrectella.

Medieval uses*

Sweet rocket was used to treat wounds. It was an antidote for insect stings and snakebites. Its leaves, which are rich in vitamin C, were used to prevent or cure scurvy. They could also boost urine and sweat production. It was used in enemas for obstructions of the intestines. When used for medicinal purposes, the leaves are best picked when the flowers are blooming.

*As always, this isn't to be considered medical advice today. Please don't use any plants mentioned in these blogs as medicine without advice from a doctor.