Hesperis sp.
Rocket, Rocket
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Hesperis sp. (Rocket) is a non-native California perennial in the Brassicaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Iberis: Hesperis has symmetrical 4-petaled flowers; Iberis flowers are distinctly asymmetrical with outer petals much larger.; vs Lunaria: Hesperis pods are narrow and beaded; Lunaria pods are large, flat, round, and silvery like coins.; vs Erysimum: Hesperis pods are beaded/constricted between seeds; Erysimum pods are smooth cylinders without constrictions.; vs Raphanus: Hesperis pods are smooth and beaded; Raphanus pods are thick, spongy, and break into segments.; vs Matthiola: Hesperis seeds lack wings; Matthiola seeds have papery wings visible in mature pods.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hesperis sp. native to California?
No. Hesperis sp. is not native to California (recorded as not native).
What plant family does Hesperis sp. belong to?
Hesperis sp. is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Hesperis.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.