This is a popular ornamental biennial or short-lived monocarpic perennial ("dame's rocket") that is naturalized in cool temperate regions across North America (K, Francis et al. 2008). C.W. Short cultivated the species in Ky. as early as 1858 (GH), but the first record as a wild plant may date from Shacklett (1937). It has locally escaped from gardens and roadsides into woodlands on fertile soils; and it has probably been sown in some areas as part of "wildflower" seed packets. It is more widespread than records indicate, especially in the Bluegrass region, and it may gradually become an invasive problem across the state. However, the species remains rare to absent south of Va., Ky. and Mo. (K, SE, W). There is obvious variation in flower color, from violet to purple to pink to white, often within the same population. Reported chromosome number (2n) ranges from 14 to 48 in Eurasia; and from 14 to 32 in North America (Francis et al. 2008). H. matronalis has had some traditional use for medicine, cattle-forage or even human food in Eurasia (Francis et al. 2008). However, there has been little investigation of such uses in North America.