Rocket Plant Care

Rocket (Eruca vesicaria) belongs to the Brassicaceae family within the Eruca genus. Rocket is native to Spain, Morocco, and Algeria. Rocket is also known as Arugula, Roquette, Garden Rocket.

Rocket displays a compact rosette growth habit, reaching up to 0.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 0.5 ft. Rocket produces small white flowers in clusters.

Leaf size: approximately 2 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Rocket every 3–5 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Rocket thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Eruca vesicaria tolerates temperatures of 50–75°F. Rocket prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining, fertile loamy soil with a pH range of 6.0-7.5. Good drainage is essential for Rocket to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Rocket every 4 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining, fertile loamy soil with a pH range of 6.0-7.5. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Rocket is suited to USDA Zone 8a – 10b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Rocket can spread to about 1 ft (0.2 m) and reach about 1 ft (0 m) tall. Space plants about 1 ft (0.2 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Rocket while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Rocket is hardy down to USDA zone 8a, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown shrubs need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Rocket can be propagated through seeds.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Rocket is susceptible to aphids, flea beetles, cabbage worms. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Rocket grows outdoors in USDA Zone 8a – 10b. It survives winters down to planting zone 8a. Rocket is native to Spain, Morocco, and Algeria.