Perennial wall rocket
Diplotaxis tenuifolia · Brassicaceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant perennial wall rocket: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Foliage
- Persistent to semi-persistent
- Flowering
- April to October, yellow flowers
- Adult size
- 30 to 60 cm in height
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Moderate, prefers temperate climate
- Origin
- Mediterranean region and South-West Asia
- Soil type
- Well-drained, tolerates poor soils
Care
Sunlight
Place your diplotaxis in full sun to optimize its growth and flowering. It tolerates partial shade but will produce less abundantly. A well-ventilated location is desirable to prevent fungal issues.
Watering
Water regularly but moderately, especially during active growth periods. Let the soil dry slightly between waterings. Reduce watering in winter if the plant persists in your region.
Soil and drainage
Diplotaxis prefers well-drained soil and cannot tolerate waterlogging. Soil enriched with organic matter promotes better growth. It adapts well to chalky soils and even nutrient-poor soil.
Pruning and maintenance
Regularly pinch back young shoots to encourage dense branching. Remove spent flowers to extend the flowering period. Light spring pruning rejuvenates the plant and creates a fuller shape.
Fertilization
Apply moderate balanced fertilizer in spring and summer. Diplotaxis does not require large quantities of nutrients. Well-decomposed compost on the soil surface is generally sufficient for its development.
Pests and diseases
Watch for flea beetles and whiteflies that can colonize dense growth. Good air circulation and restrained watering limit risks. Root rot mainly appears in cases of excess moisture.
Did you know?
Wild diplotaxis is a wild cousin of cultivated arugula and belongs to the same family as cabbages and turnips. Its finely cut leaves with a slightly peppery taste made it a traditional food plant in the Mediterranean region since Antiquity, where it was eaten in salads or cooked. It has naturalized in many European gardens where it self-seeds spontaneously, sometimes becoming an inevitable but beneficial presence for pollinators.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- CransonArmoracia rusticana
- Sea kaleCrambe maritima
- Mountain AlyssumAlyssum montanum
- Wall rock cressArabis caucasica
- Rocket SaladEruca sativa
- WasabiEutrema japonicum
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.