Botanical profile

Red Roquette

Latin name
Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa
Common name
Red arugula
Type
Annual leafy vegetable
Family
Brassicaceae

Red arugula is a very decorative annual vegetable plant, appreciated for its cut foliage with green, reddish to purplish hues depending on the variety and growing conditions. Its fresh, peppery, and slightly pungent taste adds a lot of character to salads, sandwiches, pizzas, pasta, meal bowls, pestos, and garnishes. In addition to its culinary value, its colorful foliage adds a beautiful visual touch to vegetable gardens, edible raised beds, planters, and patio containers.

Easy to grow, red arugula prefers a location in gentle sun or partial shade, in fertile, fresh, and well-drained soil. It grows quickly and appreciates regular watering to keep its leaves tender, flavorful, and less bitter. As it can bolt more quickly in hot weather, it is recommended to grow it in spring, late summer, or in successive sowings to extend the harvest. Young leaves are generally milder, while more mature leaves develop a stronger flavor.

Both productive, colorful, and very versatile in the kitchen, red arugula is ideal for gardeners looking for an original and easy-to-grow leafy green. Its contrasting foliage pairs very well with lettuces, herbs, edible flowers, and other leafy greens in edible landscaping. It is an excellent plant for enriching an urban vegetable garden, container cultivation, or an edible garden with a quick, fresh, and flavorful harvest.

Care guide

Care level
Easy

Choosing this plant

Main benefit
Decorative red-veined foliage with a peppery taste
Kitchen garden, salad, balcony, container, edible border, decorative garden
Container growing
Excellent container plant in a well-drained pot
Seasonal care
Harvest young leaves regularly; sow every 2 to 3 weeks; protect from excessive heat to limit bolting
Growing conditions

Light, soil, water and hardiness

Hardiness zone
Not hardy
Exposure
Sun to partial shade
Watering
Regular; keep the soil moist but not soggy
Humidity
Average humidity; prefers cool soil
Fertilization
Compost at planting; light fertilization after harvest
Soil type
Fertile, light, fresh, and well-drained soil
Soil pH
Slightly acidic to neutral
Minimum temperature
32 °F
Propagation method
No-till farming
Plant appearance

Blooming, foliage and shape

Blooming period
It was such a bloom
Flower color
Pale yellow to creamy white
Fruiting
Seeds in pods late in the season
Foliage color
Dark green veined with purplish red
Foliage type
Obsolete
Shape
Decorative leafy rosette port
Garden structure

Size and growth

Height
20 to 40 cm (8 to 16 inches)
Width
20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 inches)
Growth rate
Rapid growth
Vegetable garden and yield

Companion planting, spacing and harvest

Companion plants
Lettuces, radishes, carrots, onions
Plants to avoid
Strawberries, cabbage
Spacing
15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 inches)
Harvest period
Spring to autumn leaves
Not recommended for pets
Not recommended for pets

Pets

The availability of our plants varies depending on arrivals, seasons, nursery production and supplier availability. Some varieties may be offered for a limited time only, depending on their natural cycle or current stock. These plant profiles are designed to guide and inspire you when choosing plants for the garden, landscaping projects, containers or long-lasting outdoor arrangements.