Dame's Rocket (Hesperis matronalis) is in the mustard family family (Brassicaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 7,072 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Nationally it blooms mainly from May to June, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Dame's Rocket: observations by month (U.S.)
About Dame's Rocket
Hesperis matronalis is a herbaceous plant species in the mustard family, Brassicaceae. It has numerous common names, including dame's rocket, damask violet, dame's-violet, dames-wort, dame's gilliflower, night-scented gilliflower, queen's gilliflower, rogue's gilliflower, summer lilac, sweet rocket, mother-of-the-evening and winter gilliflower.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Dame's Rocket by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 1,187 | May | May–Jun |
| Ohio | 734 | May | May–May |
| New York | 699 | May | May–Jun |
| Vermont | 464 | June | May–Jun |
| Minnesota | 413 | June | May–Jun |
| Wisconsin | 388 | May | May–Jun |
| Michigan | 371 | May | May–Jun |
| Illinois | 315 | May | May–May |
| North Carolina | 247 | May | May–Jun |
| Massachusetts | 243 | May | May–Jun |
| Virginia | 201 | May | Apr–May |
| Maryland | 191 | May | May–May |
| Washington | 136 | May | May–Jun |
| Connecticut | 128 | May | May–Jun |
| West Virginia | 127 | May | May–May |
| Indiana | 123 | May | May–May |
| New Jersey | 120 | May | May–May |
| Maine | 100 | June | May–Jun |
| Oregon | 99 | May | May–Jun |
| New Hampshire | 96 | June | May–Jun |
| Colorado | 94 | May | May–Jun |
| Iowa | 81 | May | May–May |
| Nebraska | 73 | May | May–May |
| North Dakota | 60 | June | May–Jun |
| South Dakota | 60 | June | May–Jun |
| Kentucky | 57 | May | Apr–May |
| Missouri | 43 | May | Apr–May |
| Kansas | 40 | May | Apr–May |
| Tennessee | 39 | April | Apr–May |
| Montana | 36 | June | May–Jul |
| Idaho | 21 | June | May–Jun |
| Delaware | 20 | May | May–May |
| Utah | 20 | May | May–Jun |
| Wyoming | 10 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Rhode Island | 8 | June | May–Jun |
| Alaska | 7 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Arkansas | 7 | May | Apr–May |
| Oklahoma | 6 | April | Apr–Apr |
| District of Columbia | 5 | April | Apr–Apr |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (mustard family)
Garlic Mustard
Annual Honesty
Cut-Leaved Toothwort
Milkmaids
Hairy Bittercress
Shepherd's-Purse
Western Wallflower
Wild radish
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Dame's Rocket?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from May to June.
Where is Dame's Rocket most often seen?
The most observations come from Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York.