Eruca sativa

RHS Plant Profile

garden rocket

Other common names

arugula, edible rocket, jamba, roquette, rucola, salad rocket

Synonyms

Eruca sativa, Rucola silvatica

Annual Biennial Herbs - Culinary

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An edible culinary, fast growing annual. Grown mainly for its leaves, the four-petalled flowers are white and are also edible

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0-0.1 metre

Size

Time to Maturity: 1 year
Max Spread: 0-0.1 metre
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: West–facing or South–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H4

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Foliage

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Brassicaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Eruca is a genus of annual flowering plants in the brassica family which includes rocket. Flowers are creamy-white with purple veins and yellow stamens.
Name Status: Synonym
Plant Range: Mediterranean

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in any soil in part shade, from seed. cropping can be within 40 days. Tolerates sun, but likes some shade from summer sun. Fairly drought resistant. Follow rocket cultivation for more advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds or sowing seeds indoors for further advice

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to flea beetles and slugs and snails damage when young

Diseases

Generally disease-free