Does Arugula grow wild? - Plant Care Guide

Yes, arugula (Eruca vesicaria and Diplotaxis tenuifolia) does grow wild in many parts of the world, particularly in its native Mediterranean region, and has naturalized in numerous other temperate climates. The common "garden arugula" you buy is the cultivated form of Eruca vesicaria, but its wild relatives (sometimes called "wild arugula" or "rocket") are tenacious self-seeders that can readily establish themselves in disturbed soils, roadsides, and even forgotten garden patches.

What is Arugula?

Arugula is a popular leafy green vegetable known for its distinctive pungent, peppery, and slightly bitter flavor. It's a member of the Brassicaceae (mustard) family, related to kale, broccoli, and cabbage, and is cherished in various cuisines, particularly Mediterranean. It's often used fresh in salads, as a pizza topping, or lightly wilted in pasta dishes.

Here's a breakdown of what arugula is:

• Definition: A fast-growing, cool-season annual (or short-lived perennial, depending on species and climate) leafy green vegetable cultivated for its tender leaves and characteristic spicy flavor.

• Scientific Names & Types:

  • Garden Arugula (Eruca vesicaria, formerly Eruca sativa): This is the most common type found in grocery stores and seed packets. It has broader, rounder, or slightly lobed leaves and a milder peppery flavor than its wild counterparts. It's an annual.
  • Wild Arugula (Diplotaxis tenuifolia): Also known as "wild rocket" or "perennial wall rocket." It has deeply lobed, more slender leaves (often likened to oak leaves) and a much more intense, pungent, and peppery flavor. It's a short-lived perennial, capable of growing back if stems are not cut too low. This species is particularly known for its ability to naturalize and appear "wild."

• Key Characteristics:

  1. Flavor: The defining characteristic is its unique flavor profile – spicy, peppery, with nutty undertones, and sometimes a slight bitterness. The intensity of the flavor can vary with age (older leaves are spicier) and growing conditions (hot weather makes it spicier).
  2. Leaf Shape:
     • Garden Arugula: Leaves are typically smooth-edged, oval, or spoon-shaped when young, developing into slightly lobed (pinnately lobed) leaves as they mature.
     • Wild Arugula: Leaves are typically more deeply serrated or lobed, often resembling dandelion leaves or fine oak leaves.
  3. Growth Habit:
     • Rosette: Starts as a basal rosette of leaves.
     • Bolting: In warm weather or with age, it rapidly sends up a central flower stalk (a process called bolting).
  4. Flowers: Produces small, delicate, typically white or pale yellow flowers with four petals, characteristic of the mustard family. The flowers are edible and also have a peppery taste.
  5. Seeds: Produces elongated seed pods after flowering, containing small, round seeds.
  6. Cool Season Crop: Thrives in cool weather (spring and fall). High temperatures trigger bolting and can make leaves bitter.

• Nutritional Value: Arugula is very nutritious, rich in vitamins K, A, and C, and a good source of folate, calcium, and iron. It's also low in calories.

• Culinary Uses: Primarily used fresh in salads, sandwiches, and as a garnish. It can also be lightly wilted into warm dishes like pasta, risotto, or on pizzas after baking.

In summary, arugula is a versatile, flavorful, and nutritious leafy green that adds a distinctive peppery kick to many dishes. Its growth habit and flavor intensity are influenced by its specific species and growing conditions.

Where Does Arugula Grow Wild?

Arugula (Eruca vesicaria and Diplotaxis tenuifolia) grows wild in various parts of the world, having originated in the Mediterranean region and subsequently naturalizing in many other temperate climates. Its ability to self-seed readily and adapt to disturbed soils makes it a common sight in uncultivated areas.

Here's where arugula grows wild:

1. Native Mediterranean Region (Primary Origin):

   • Origin: The ancestral home of both garden arugula (Eruca vesicaria) and wild arugula (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) is the Mediterranean Basin. This includes countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea in Southern Europe (Italy, Greece, Spain, France), North Africa, and the Middle East.
   • Habitat: In this region, it naturally grows in:
     • Coastal areas: Sandy soils near the sea.
     • Disturbed lands: Roadsides, fallow fields, waste grounds, rocky hillsides.
     • Agricultural margins: Edges of cultivated fields.
   • Why: The warm, dry summers and mild, moist winters of the Mediterranean climate are well-suited to its life cycle, allowing it to complete its growth before the peak summer heat or persist as a perennial.

2. Naturalized in Temperate Regions Worldwide:

   • Spread: Due to human cultivation, seed dispersal, and its vigorous self-seeding nature, arugula (both Eruca and Diplotaxis) has naturalized in many other temperate parts of the world where conditions are favorable.
   • Europe: Widespread across much of temperate Europe.
   • North America: Commonly found growing wild in parts of the United States (especially the warmer states and coastal regions) and Canada.
   • Australia/New Zealand: Has also established itself in these regions.
   • Why: It thrives in disturbed, sunny to partly sunny locations with decent drainage, often popping up in:
     • Vacant lots: Unmaintained urban areas.
     • Roadsides and railway embankments: Edges of transportation corridors.
     • Old fields and pastures: Abandoned agricultural land.
     • Garden edges and forgotten corners: It's a notorious (but often welcome) self-seeder in gardens once established.
     • Cracks in pavement: The tenacious Diplotaxis tenuifolia (wild rocket) is particularly known as "wall rocket" for its ability to grow in unexpected crevices.

Key Characteristics Allowing Wild Growth:

• Prolific Self-Seeder: Produces many seeds that disperse easily.
• Rapid Growth: Quickly establishes itself before being outcompeted by larger plants.
• Adaptability: Tolerant of various soil types (though prefers well-drained), and can handle some drought once established.
• Cool Season Preference: Allows it to thrive in spring and fall when other plants are less competitive.

So, while often cultivated for culinary use, the wild spirit of arugula allows it to readily establish itself and thrive without human intervention in suitable environments across the globe, bringing its peppery flavor to unexpected places.

What Are the Differences Between Wild and Cultivated Arugula?

While both wild and cultivated arugula share a distinctive peppery flavor, there are several key differences in their appearance, taste, growth habit, and origin. Understanding these distinctions helps gardeners choose the right type for their palate and growing conditions.

Here's a comparison of the differences between wild and cultivated arugula:

Why Choose One Over the Other?

• Choose Cultivated Arugula If: You prefer a milder, gentler peppery flavor, want larger leaves, and are growing it in spring and fall.
• Choose Wild Arugula If: You enjoy a more intense, robust, spicier flavor, want a plant that is slightly more heat tolerant, and appreciate its tenacious, self-seeding perennial (or biennial) nature in the garden. It's often found as specialty seeds.

Both types offer delicious and nutritious additions to the garden, but their distinct characteristics allow gardeners to select the best fit for their culinary preferences and growing environment. You can find arugula seeds for both cultivated and wild varieties.

How Can I Encourage Arugula to Self-Seed in My Garden?

Encouraging arugula to self-seed in your garden is a fantastic way to ensure a continuous, low-maintenance supply of this peppery green throughout the growing season and even into future years. This works particularly well with wild arugula (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) due to its more tenacious nature, but cultivated arugula can also self-seed prolifically.

Here’s how you can encourage arugula to self-seed in your garden:

1. Allow Some Plants to Bolt and Go to Seed:

   • The Key Step: This is the most crucial action. Instead of harvesting all your arugula plants, allow a few of them to bolt (send up flower stalks) and then let those flowers mature into seed pods.
   • Timing: As the weather warms, arugula will naturally bolt. Resist the urge to pull out all these "spent" plants.
   • Why: The seeds are the future generation. If you always harvest or pull out bolting plants, no seeds will be produced.

2. Wait for Seed Pods to Mature:

   • Observation: After the delicate white or yellow flowers fade, the plant will form thin, elongated seed pods.
   • Ripening: Wait until these pods turn light brown or tan and become dry and brittle. You should hear the seeds rattling inside when you shake the stalk.
   • Why: Immature, green seeds are not viable and won't germinate.

3. Allow Seeds to Fall Naturally:

   • Hands-Off Approach: The simplest method is to allow the mature seed pods to naturally split open and drop their seeds onto the soil below. The wind and rain will help distribute them.
   • Light Soil Disturbance: You can lightly scratch the soil surface around the base of the parent plant to provide some bare soil for the seeds to settle into, mimicking natural disturbance.
   • Why: Natural dispersal often results in staggered germination, providing a continuous harvest.

4. Prepare the Soil for Germination:

   • Bare Soil/Minimal Coverage: Arugula seeds need good contact with the soil and light to germinate. Areas with bare soil or very thin mulch are ideal.
   • Lightly Moist: Ensure the soil remains lightly moist (not soggy) for optimal germination.
   • Avoid Thick Mulch: A heavy layer of mulch can prevent seeds from reaching the soil or block necessary light for germination.

5. Plant in Succession for Continuous Harvests:

   • Staggered Planting: For a steady supply, consider sowing small batches of arugula seeds every 2-3 weeks, starting in early spring and continuing into fall. This ensures that even if some plants bolt, you'll have younger ones ready for harvest.
   • Why: This strategy means you'll always have some plants bolting for seed production, and others in prime harvesting condition.

6. Optimal Growing Conditions (for Strong Parent Plants):

   • Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade (partial shade helps delay bolting in hot weather).
   • Soil: Well-draining, fertile soil.
   • Water: Consistent moisture promotes strong plants that produce more seeds.
   • Why: Healthy, vigorous plants produce a greater quantity of viable seeds.

Tips for Managing Self-Seeders:

• Thinning: If you get too many volunteer seedlings, thin them out to prevent overcrowding. You can eat the thinnings!
• "Weeding": Simply pull any unwanted self-seeded plants in areas where you don't want them to grow.
• Designated "Arugula Patch": Consider dedicating a specific, out-of-the-way corner of your garden where you can allow some arugula to bolt and self-seed freely without interfering with other plantings.

By following these steps, you can successfully encourage arugula to self-seed in your garden, turning it into a wonderfully convenient and low-maintenance source of peppery greens year after year.

What Are the Benefits of Growing Wild Arugula in a Garden?

Growing wild arugula (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) in a garden offers distinct advantages over its cultivated cousin, providing a more intense flavor, extended harvest, and resilient nature that can make it a wonderfully rewarding addition, particularly for those who appreciate robust greens and low-maintenance gardening.

Here are the key benefits of growing wild arugula in a garden:

1. More Intense, Pungent Flavor:

   • Spicier Kick: Wild arugula is renowned for its significantly stronger, more peppery, pungent, and sometimes slightly bitter flavor compared to cultivated arugula.
   • Culinary Impact: This makes it a fantastic choice for those who love a bold peppery kick in salads, pestos, pizzas, or as a garnish where its flavor can stand out.

2. Greater Heat Tolerance and Slower Bolting:

   • Extended Harvest: While all arugula will eventually bolt in extreme heat, wild arugula is generally more resistant to bolting in warmer temperatures than cultivated varieties. This means you can often enjoy a longer harvest season in spring and a quicker return in fall without it immediately sending up a flower stalk.
   • Resilience: Its tougher nature allows it to withstand summer heat better, although providing some afternoon shade in very hot climates will further extend its leafy production.

3. Tenacious Self-Seeding (Low Maintenance and Continuous Supply):

   • Perennial-Like Habit: Wild arugula is often considered a short-lived perennial (or a very tenacious annual). If you allow some plants to go to seed, it will readily self-seed throughout your garden.
   • Benefits: This creates a wonderfully low-maintenance system where you'll have a continuous supply of arugula popping up season after season, often without the need for replanting. You'll always have fresh leaves available.
   • Surprise Harvests: It can appear in unexpected corners, providing delightful surprise harvests.

4. Robust and Resilient Growth:

   • Tougher Leaves: Its more finely lobed leaves are often a bit tougher and more resilient to pests than the softer leaves of cultivated arugula, though still susceptible.
   • Adaptability: It's quite adaptable to various soil conditions (as long as they are well-draining) and can tolerate some neglect once established.

5. Unique Aesthetic:

   • Fine Texture: The deeply lobed, slender leaves of wild arugula add a distinct, delicate texture to salads and dishes, visually different from broader-leaved cultivated varieties.
   • Edible Flowers: Its small, pale yellow flowers are also edible and have a peppery taste, adding a charming touch to salads.

6. Attracts Beneficial Insects:

   • Like many plants in the Brassicaceae family, the small flowers of wild arugula can attract beneficial insects when it does bolt, contributing to the garden's ecosystem.

Considerations:

• Flavor Intensity: Be aware of the stronger flavor. If you prefer a milder taste, harvest younger leaves or stick with cultivated varieties.
• Management: While self-seeding is a benefit, you may need to thin seedlings or pull unwanted plants from areas where you don't want them to grow too densely.

By embracing the vigorous, flavorful, and resilient nature of wild arugula, gardeners can enjoy a more robust peppery green, reduce their planting efforts, and add a touch of wild elegance to their culinary endeavors.