Sweet Rocket, Hesperis matronalis

Jenny Humphrey

It grows wild in many areas.  In fact it goes wild in my garden but I love it because the bees and butterflies love it and the flowers are delightfully aromatic.  This short lived perennial will self seed and pop up readily in different garden locations but once the leaves are recognised it is not a problem as the excess plants can be pulled up easily.  This plant, which produces pink, purplish and white flowers, is actually a member of the cabbage family but the sweet fragrance is more reminiscent of Evening Scented Stock.  The plants will flower on and off all summer long especially if encouraged by cutting them back after the first flush of bloom.  To me this is a perfect cottage garden plant, very informal, just unruly enough to be fun and a magnet for butterflies.
The young leaves are edible too!