Species purple rocket
clusters of small, white flowers with purple centers and buds, green stems, and green leaves

purple rocket

Iodanthus pinnatifidus

Purple Rocket (Iodanthus pinnatifidus) is a low-growing evergreen shrub native to California. Growing up to 1 m in height, it produces fragrant purple flowers from spring to early summer. The flowers are bell-shaped and occur in small clusters. The leaves are large and deeply lobed, giving the plant an attractive three-dimensional shape. The foliage is grey-green in color and can also turn bronze in cold weather. It prefers full sun and is drought tolerant once established. This delightful shrub requires minimal maintenance and makes an attractive addition to any garden.

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Frequent

Propagation:

Division,Cutting,Seed Propagation,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

4 - 8

Flowers:

Light violet fading to white Flowers

Sun:

Part shade,full shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

High

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Purple rocket (Iodanthus pinnatifidus) should be watered regularly and more frequently during growing season. Make sure to water deeply and evenly. In the summer months, water the soil around the plant deeply once a week, making sure to saturate the roots. During cooler months, water the soil around the plant once every 2-3 weeks, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Avoid over-watering, as this can cause root rot. For established plants, a thorough watering once per month should suffice.

sunlight

Purple rocket (Iodanthus pinnatifidus) prefers to receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. If the plant receives too much sun, its colors will be washed out and the foliage may be damaged. The best times for purple rocket to receive sunlight is during the morning before 10 am and in the late afternoon between the hours of 3 to 6 pm. Shade-loving plants should be placed away from periods of direct sunlight in early and mid afternoons, especially during the hot summer months.

pruning

Purple Rocket (Iodanthus pinnatifidus) should be pruned twice a year - once in late spring and again in early fall. In late spring, prune back 2-thirds of the length of the stems, removing any old, dead or damaged growth. In early fall, do a light pruning to remove any weak stems and dead leaves. To manage size and shape, you can lightly prune as needed throughout the season, avoiding drastic reductions in size. Try not to trim more than a third of the stem length.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Iodanthus pinnatifidus typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Starts Flowering

Iodanthus pinnatifidus typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Hardiness Map