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Dame’s Rocket or Prairie Phlox

June 11, 2018

Reprinted from a post by Prairie Moon Nursery on the Native Plant Gardens in the Upper Midwest Facebook page:

“Around this time every year, we hear from many plant-lovers wanting that “pink-purple PHLOX that has suddenly appeared along their roadside or woodland edge”. Commonly mistaken for native phlox, these plants actually are Dame’s Rocket (Hesperis matronalis), a non-native, very invasive member of the Mustard family.

This illustration shows the major differences in Dame’s Rocket and Prairie Phlox (Phlox pilosa).

Non-native noxious weed dame’s rocket (Hesperis matronalis) has four petals, while native phlox has five petals. It’s a prolific seeder that quickly overcomes native habitat.
Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) moth on Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata). Photo by Doug Tallamy

MUSTARDS like Dame’s Rocket have FOUR petals while native PHLOX have FIVE petals. Dame’s Rocket has ALTERNATE leaves and Phlox has OPPOSITE leaves.Imported from Eurasia in the 1600s, Dame’s Rocket, like most introduced invasive plants, lacks natural predators and diseases in North America. It thrives in most environments and is a prolific self-seeder and fast-grower. It can enter waterways, quickly overtaking native plant communities as it successfully competes for light and moisture.

Its recent spread has been accelerated by its inclusion in “wildflower” seed mixes sold commercially. Beware of nurseries that sell this so-called “wild phlox.” Whenever you can, please help to eradicate non-native invasive species and replace them with native species. We can each do our part to protect the integrity of our local environment! Here are the phlox species from Prairie Moon

NOTE: During 2018, Prairie Moon Nursery is including a free packet of Bergamot (Monarda fistulos) seed with each retail order. Details.

Thanks, Julia Lundmark Vanatta for bringing this post to my attention. Great illustration! Dame’s Rocket appears on 46 states’ noxious weed lists.

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Comments

  1. Janet Allen says

    June 16, 2018 at 5:13 am

    An easy way to remember which is which:
    “PHLOX” has five letters / five petals
    “DAME” has four letters / four petals.

    Reply
    • Donna VanBuecken says

      June 16, 2018 at 9:47 am

      Great word association, Janet — Donna

      Reply
  2. Steph says

    April 23, 2021 at 7:18 pm

    Is there a way to tell them apart before they flower?

    Reply
    • Donna VanBuecken says

      April 24, 2021 at 9:51 am

      You tell them apart from the leaves, Steph. The photo no longer exists. I will take a photo to replace that photo in a day of two. Keep checking — Donna

      Reply
    • Donna VanBuecken says

      April 27, 2021 at 5:15 pm

      Steph — the dame’s rocket leaves are rosette leaves which is a circular arrangement of leaves that can grow up to 6 inches long. The leave are lance shaped about two to six inches long and wider at the base.

      Dame's Rocket (Hesperis matrolalis) leaves

      The phlox leaves are one to two inches long and are half a inch wide. The leaves are rounded at the base and pointed at the tip and slightly hairy on top with tiny hairs on the edges.

      Reply

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