Purple Flowers in Minnesota Are Turning Heads But They’re Not What You Think
You know those absolutely stunning purple flowers that have basically taken over ditches and yards around Southeast Minnesota? And by "taken over," I mean they are everywhere!
The purple invasion has started in ditches and yards in Minnesota. As you stare at these gorgeous flowers, most people think that these purple beauties are phlox. Unfortunately, if that is your guess, you are labeling them incorrectly. If you are trying to plant these in your yard, you might want to stop. Here's why...
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What are the purple flowers that are growing in ditches in Minnesota?
Here's some general information that I've gathered about these vibrant flowers:
- Each flower boasts four petals.
- They smell absolutely divine!
- They come in a range of purples, from light lavender to a deep, rich hue, plus some whites too.
NOTE: While this plant does look a lot like phlox, a quick check with ourwaterways.org confirms this key difference: phlox have five petals, not four.
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That's what the flower isn't. Below is what you should start calling all of those purple bouquets instead.
Here's the Official Name of the Purple Flowers Popping Up in Ditches Throughout Minnesota
Google and Wikipedia have been great resources for me as I was digging deep about these purple flowers. Based on those resources, the purple flowers popping up in ditches throughout the Land of 10,000 Lakes go by quite a few names, including the following:
dames 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, Good & Plenties (love that one!), and winter gilliflower.
Is Dame's Rocket (The Purple Flowers in the Ditch) An Invasive Plant in Minnesota?
If you believe Reddit and other online forums, you may hear that the purple flowers in the ditches are NOT invasive species. However, some conflicting information has been provided by the Board of Water and Soil Resources in the state of Minnesota.
Dame's rocket (Hesperis matronalis) is in the mustard family, identified by its four rounded petals and alternate leaves. Dame's rocket is invasive and common in disturbed soils.
Wikipedia and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources also shared some info about the expansion of this plant in our neighboring state: "In Wisconsin, it is classed as restricted, i.e. an invasive species that is already widely established in the state, and causes, or has the potential to cause significant environmental or economic harm."
So, it seems Wisconsin has a bone to pick with these purple powerhouses, too.
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Gallery Credit: Jessica On The Radio
