Phlox has five petals, while Dame’s Rocket has just four. However, these florets have only 4 petals (phlox have five), marking this species as a pink/purple member of the mustard family. The idea is that the presence of dame's rocket could prime habitat for the incursion of more aggressive invasive plants by decreasing the presence native species, both in number and diversity. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (each updated 1/1/20). (WisContext often uses, If you share the republished story on social media, please mention @wiscontext on. For starters, the invasive tends to bloom earlier than phlox. Some flowers are even herbs that you can use to cure with and eat. Ecological threat: Invades moist and mesic woodlands, on woodland edges, and along roadsides, and in open areas. Dame's rocket escaped from the garden and made itself at home along woodland edges and in meadows. Dames Rocket has colonized an overgrown road to an abandoned ruin in a nearby woods that makes the most incredible color stream in shafts of light coming down through the trees of white to pale blush pink to deeper blue-y rose to purple. The woodland (or wild blue) phlox flower, as seen in Milwaukee, has five petals. You must include our page view counter when republishing online. Flowering stalks emerge in spring. This tool is a 1x1 invisible pixel that allows WisContext to know when and where articles are republished. They may not be published separately from the articles with which they appear. WisContext serves the residents of Wisconsin, providing information and insight into issues as they affect the state. The plants do not like hot, humid weather, and will grow best in more northerly climates. Subscribe to lehighvalleylive.com ». Ends of leaves are rounded, not pointed like phlox. Dame's Rocket is a prolific bloomer and a single plant produces a copious amount of seed. Fertilize every four to six weeks, for best performance. I have several of these plants. And also dame's rocket leaves are positioned alternately along its stems, not opposite like phlox leaves. "So we don't really have a huge understanding of what those negative consequences are," he added. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. When republishing any WisContext article, this credit must be included: [Article Title] was originally published on WisContext, which produced the article in a partnership between Wisconsin Public Radio and PBS Wisconsin. Dame's rocket is a common name (among many) for Hesperis matronalis, a member of the mustard family native to Eurasia. If in doubt, Dame's Rocket has four flower petals, and all Phlox types have five. They are planted in what looks like an intentional site vs… Dame's Rocket may be confused for a native phlox, but phlox all have 5-petaled flowers where Dame's Rocket has 4 petals. Adding flowers to salads can make a plain ordinary salad something truly beautiful and extraordinary. Roadside mowing is a particularly effective mode of seed dispersal, Renz said, because it often coincides with the lifestage of dame's rocket when its fruit is ripe and seeds are developed. Dame's rocket (Hesperis matronalis)General description: Showy, short-lived perennial or biennial, 3-4’ tall. It has historically been included in wildflower seed mixes, including mixes that purport to contain only native seeds. This button provides an easy way for you to copy and paste WisContext story text on to your website. Proper use of herbicides can also be effective, while mowing and burning are less so. Dame’s rocket is spectacular in early meadow bloom, and also carries a delightful clove-like scent. Dame’s Rocket has ALTERNATE leaves and Phlox has OPPOSITE leaves. © 2020 Advance Local Media LLC. Also, an easy way to tell the difference between Dame’s Rocket and Phlox is that Dame’s Rocket has four-petaled flowers, Phlox has five. Phlox is a North American plant with red, white or purple flowers and opposite leaves, often sweet-smelling.Phlox is usually used in borders and hanging baskets.Phlox is derived from the Greek word phlox, meaning flame.. The loose flower clusters resemble garden phlox. This is due to its flowers, which in addition to their beauty are very often confused for two species native to North America: woodland (or wild blue) phlox (Phlox divaricata) and garden (or fall) phlox (Phlox paniculata). The problems posed by dame's rocket to native habitats are not totally known and tend to be indirect, according to Mark Renz, an associate professor and Extension specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who researches weeds and invasive plants. 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