Dame’s rocket
Discuss this plant with the guide — choose this profile as a possible match and prepare your observations for Colorado Plants & Practical Care.
Hesperis matronalis
Colorado noxious weed · List B — Stop the spread. J-dames-rocket
Established in some areas. Requirements vary by location: eradication, containment or suppression to stop further spread. This is a management category, separate from danger ratings. Category source · What the lists mean.
Escapes gardens and spreads. Native status, garden use and noxious-weed class are separate from toxicity. Exposure help.
Identification caveat: Four petals help distinguish this mustard relative from five-petaled garden phlox; this clue alone is not a complete identification.
Still researching this plant
This is a sourced working profile. Evidence is incomplete for People, Dogs & cats, Other animals. Identification and source-photo limits are explained below. Independent botanical and veterinary review is pending. Uncertainty is not a finding that the plant is safe.
Three views of this plant
Photos are source-identified examples, not a complete identification key. Check leaves, stems, flowers and fruit together. Locations are not assumed to be in Colorado.
Anneli Salo · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source page scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination.
Wikimedia server-resized derivative; no crop, color change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Algirdas at Lithuanian Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source page scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination.
Wikimedia server-resized derivative; no crop, color change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
User:SB_Johnny · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source page scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination.
Wikimedia server-resized derivative; no crop, color change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Recognize
Fragrant purple, pink or white flowers with four petals; often a biennial or short-lived perennial. C-descriptions
Plants & habitat
Introduced as an ornamental and can spread aggressively. Do not use seed mixes containing it; prevent seed set and follow up on seedlings. C-descriptions
People
The reviewed sources do not establish ingestion safety. This is an evidence gap, not proof of safety.
Dogs & cats
Species-specific ingestion effects and exposure thresholds were not established in the reviewed sources. This is an evidence gap, not proof of safety.
Other animals
Species-specific ingestion effects and exposure thresholds were not established in the reviewed sources. This is an evidence gap, not proof of safety.
Before taking action
Confirm the scientific name before removing a plant, changing animal access, or choosing treatment. An evidence gap means this review has not resolved the question. It does not mean safe. For listed weeds, consult your county weed program about the requirements for your location; follow the current label for any pesticide. S27
References
- J-dames-rocket — Dames Rocket, Jefferson County, Colorado. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:27:22+00:00. Locator: Description, impacts, Colorado list designation, management.
- C-descriptions — Weed descriptions, Colorado State University Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:24:02+00:00. Locator: Species entries.