Plant Finder

   

vegetable

Arugula

Eruca sativa

Add To My Wish List

 
Arugula (Eruca sativa) at Countryside Flower Shop & Nursery

Arugula

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  24 inches

Spacing:  10 inches

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  6a

Other Names:  Rocket Salad, Roquette

Description:

An annual herbaceous plant that is widely cultivated for its piquant leaves, for salads, and as a cooked green; its oil-rich seeds are also utilized; white to creamy yellow flowers rise above in summer; a wonderful garden or container plant

Edible Qualities

Arugula is a perennial vegetable plant that is commonly grown for its edible qualities, although it does have ornamental merits as well. The lobed green leaves can be harvested at any time in the season. The leaves have a spicy taste with a crisp texture and a distinctive fragrance.

The leaves are most often used in the following ways:

  • Fresh Eating
  • Cooking

Planting & Growing

Arugula will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 inches. When planted in rows, individual plants should be spaced approximately 10 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a fast rate, and tends to be biennial, meaning that it puts on vegetative growth the first year, flowers the second, and then dies. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant is quite ornamental as well as edible, and is as much at home in a landscape or flower garden as it is in a designated vegetable garden. It does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is native to parts of North America..

Arugula is a good choice for the vegetable garden, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. It can be used either as 'filler' or as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, depending on the height and form of the other plants used in the container planting. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, this plant may be too tender to survive the winter if left outdoors in a container. Contact our experts for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Garden  Herb  Container 
Applications
Vegetable 
Ornamental Features

Click to access the login or register cheese

Subscribe

Sign up for our e-newsletter for gardening tips and special offers

By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Countryside Flower Shop, 5301 E Terra Cotta Ave, Route 176, 1/2 Mile West of Route 31, Crystal Lake, IL, 60014, US, https://www.countrysideflowershop.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact.