Botanical name: Hesperis matronalis
Folk names: Dame’s violet, summer lilac

Type: Biennial or short-lived perennial

Wildlife: Nectar for spring butterflies including Green-veined white, Holly Blue and Orange-tip, bees and hoverflies. (Caterpillar plant for Orange-tip although larvae more successful on lady’s smock.)

Flowers: Late April to early June

Decorative merit: Pinky mauve or white four-petalled flowers, similar to honesty, in loose clusters on multiple, upright stems. Up to 90cm high and 45cm wide. If a plant is happy, it will form a clump producing many stems and flowers, spreading and self-seeding slightly each year.  Flowers are slightly scented and can be used for cut flower displays. Flowers are edible!

Where: Shade or part-sun. Middle of borders, mini meadows or gravel gardens. Works well in the centre of a spring meadow patch, then cut back the stems to let summer flowers take over. Forms a healthy-size rosette of foliage so allow for space and it will reward you with fountains of flowers in late spring.

Folklore: A popular ‘cottage garden’ plant and used in natural flower arrangements. Do you know any stories?

Cabbage family relative of honesty and lady’s smock.

Donate seeds to Exeter Seed Bank