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Dames Rocket - is it bad and should it be removed?

 
Posts: 46
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA - Zone 5B
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My wife planted a variety of wildflowers last year and this flox like plant came up with four, not five petal flowers that have been identified as "dames rocket." Her research shows its invasive and spreads and is recommended for removal according to this website. http://www.prairiemoon.com/blog/customer-frequently-asked-questions/dames-rocket-vs-native-phlox/2010/05/

But since they may not have the permie attitude we do, I wanted to pose the question to the awesome experts here at permies.com.

I've seen several threads on search here that mention dames rocket and some people eat it. No one yet has said, at least in my searches that it's bad and needs to be killed. I think its a pretty plant. We have about an acre of land. I would love to keep it if it has any benefits.
 
pollinator
Posts: 11853
Location: Central Texas USA Latitude 30 Zone 8
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It does not get a high edibility rating from Plants for a Future: http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Hesperis+matronalis

Because of that low rating I would personally be more likely to remove it before it becomes a problem, if I have the option.

 
Posts: 145
Location: NW MT Zones 4/5 Rollins Mt
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I have never had it get running out of control in our climate here in Montana.Have seen it growing wild in a few places.The bees like it as a pollinator plant, we have ate the young sprouts before as well.Those two thoughts out being the more appropriate ones for the site.I personally grow it for eye candy and the smell..It is one of those highly fragrant enjoyable plants that one can cut and bring in bouquets....Being a bi-annual if you want to manage it simply be sure to cut it for flower arrangements while it is in bloom,, easy no seeds dropped that way..
Mary
of the
Happy House
 
pollinator
Posts: 4437
Location: North Central Michigan
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Dames Rocket is edible, I eat it..and as long as you pull it before it goes to seed you can control it fairly easily...if you don't like it.. It is a great insectary plant and is especially useful for early bees when nothing else is in bloom.

I love the stuff and really frown on things being despised..of course, if you have a very very tiny garden then you might want to pull it out..but wait until it has bloomed..and try eating some baby leaves.
 
Loren Hunt
Posts: 46
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA - Zone 5B
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Thanks for all the info and suggestions. We have an acre and I want to get a lot of it in plants. Now getting my wife on board 100% is another story. She's about 70% there.
 
Posts: 561
Location: Western WA,usda zone 6/7,80inches of rain,250feet elevation
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the advantage of dames rocket(at least here in the PacificNW)is that is one of the earliest spring greens ,easily edible by mid febuary in some years.I rate it pretty high as an edible because of that.
 
master gardener
Posts: 4261
Location: Upstate NY, Zone 5, 43 inch Avg. Rainfall
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I have found a patch of it on my land, mixed with other highly competitive plants, and have been musing my plans for it as it isn't in a place where I can just ignore it.

I'm thinking it might be a good candidate for chop and drop.
 
gardener
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Location: Central Maine (Zone 5a)
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I had Dames Rocket on my former property here in Maine. In this climate and that situation, I did not notice it spreading at all. It stayed pretty much where it was.
 
pollinator
Posts: 193
Location: Nebraska zone 5
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It's a pretty flower and grows in a field across the street from our house. My girls pick a bunch every year for mom. I let them pick as much as they want. I tell my kids that flowers were made for picking.
 
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