Turkish Rocket - Bunias orientalis - €9 per plant 
For Root Cuttings Click Here 

An easy to grow herbaceous perennial that provides masses of edible leaves and immature flowering stems. Quite bitter tasting but acceptable when young.
The Deep tap roots bring nutrients from the sub soil to surface and the yellow flowers attract hoverfiles and bees. Good ground cover can be established with these plants in a sunny position and once established they are drought tolerant and need little care.  To order this plant please contact us [email protected].  

Context

  • native region: Europe - Caucasus, S. Russia. 
  • native habitat: Cultivated and waste ground
  • family: Brassicaceae or Cruciferae

Predators

  • None  known or experienced 

Needs, tolerances 

  • Light: Full sun - dappled shade
  • soil pH:  Acid, neutral -basic alkaline 
  • Hardiness Zone: 7
  • Drought Tolerant Plant – once established
  • Can withstand maritime exposure 

Known hazards 

  • None known

Overview

  • Herbaceous perennial growing to 0.9 m  by 0.5 m. 
  • It is hardy to zone 7 and is not frost tender. 
  • It is in flower from May to August, and the seeds ripen from Jul to September.
  • The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, flies, self.The plant is self-fertile. 
  • Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils.
  • Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. 
  • It can grow in dappled shade.

Characteristics

  • form:Herbaceous  perennial 
  • layer : Herb Layer
  • habit: Bush like, deep tap root system. 
  • height x width (m): 0.9 x 0.5
  • years to bearing yield: 0 years  
  • productive life span: indefinite 

Products 

  • Young leaves can be eaten raw 
  • Immature flowering stems can be picked and eaten similar to broccoli. 
  • Animal Fodder Plant -  Cattle, sheep, Pigs, Rabbits  and poultry.

Functions, behaviours


  •  Plants are quite tolerant of neglect.
  • Undisturbed leaf mass over winter should provide a favorable habitat for overwintering invertebrates.  
  • General insect nectar plant – especially bees and parasatoid wasps
  • Butterfly nectar plant
  • Large taproot probably accumulates minerals from the sub soil. 
 Email [email protected] with your order. 
Balkan Ecology Project