Name an edible plant that is delicious raw or cooked, has gorgeous flowers that attract beneficial pollinators, and deters browsing animals such as deer and rabbits… If Arugula didn’t come to mind add it to your must grow list asap!
Eruca versicaria ssp. sativa is native to the Mediterranean region and is a part of the widely grown Brassicaceae family which includes distant relatives like broccoli, cabbage, and kale. Like most edibles, it prefers to grow in full sun with moist, well-drained soil. However, this tasty green can successfully be cultivated in part shade providing an opportunity for gardeners living with more trees!
Grown easily from seed, Arugula looks great sown in mass along a border edge, providing an easy and convenient harvest. Simply direct sow seed in compost in early spring and germination should occur quickly. A rosette of foliage will develop and can be harvested from regularly. Just like leaf lettuce and mustard greens, arugula will bolt into bloom with warm weather. The 15-30" tall spikes of pale white to yellow flowers are showy and attract beneficial pollinators including swallowtail butterflies. Allow the plants to go to seed and they will self-sow, creating a maintenance free ground cover that will provide ample greens for an extended season. In my garden arugula grows year-round with no care at all!
This cool season green will add spice and flavor to your salad and can be served wilted to compliment hearty dishes. But the most valuable aspect of growing arugula is its resistance to animals such as rabbits and deer. Even if you don’t eat it, this is a plant well worth including in your landscape to help deter hungry animals.
