About the Plant

London rocket is a native of Eurasia that came to Arizona in 1909. A winter annual, it begins to grow and flower in January or February, earlier than our native wildflowers. This allows it to outcompete these natives for water and sunlight.

London rocket is found all over Tucson. You may see it growing to 3 feet in height, especially in low-lying, damp areas. Control London rocket in your yard by pulling it before it begins to produce fruit. Be careful! Some of our most attractive native spring wildflowers have leaves or flowers similar to those of London rocket.

More Information:

Weekly Plant on London rocket

Information from UC-Davis Weed Gallery

Map of distribution in US (light blue color means plant is found in that county, but it is not native)

Technical botanical description from SEINet

ID Characteristics

This plant is in the Brassicaceae - the mustard family.

London rocket first forms a rosette of leaves low to the ground. With ample water it can reach to a foot across and the flower stalks reach to 3 feet high.

The basal leaves are deeply lobed, about 6" long and a medium green on both sides, without hairs. The center vein is often white. Leaves on the flower stalk may be oblong and alternate.

The flowers are typical of plants in the mustard family. The quarter-inch flowers have 4 yellow petals and are held in clusters. The flowers are on the top of the flower stalk with the fruit appearing below. If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you can see the fruit starting to form in the center of the flower.

The fruit is long and slender - up to 1.5 inches long but only 1/25 inch wide. The fruit is held upward, toward the flower cluster. Young fruit often extend beyond the flowers, as shown in photo.