Arugula is an annual cool-season vegetable in the mustard family (Brassicaceae) that is grown for its peppery-tasting leaves. It is native from the Mediterranean to the Arabian Peninsula and China. Growing 8 inches to 3 feet tall and 8 to 18 inches wide, arugula resembles tall lettuce. Popular in Italy, it is often eaten fresh in salads or used in a variety of cooked dishes. Many other parts of the plant can also be eaten such as the flowers, young seed pods, and seeds. Another edible plant that is often confused with arugula is wild arugula or perennial wall-rocket ( Diplotaxis tenuifolia ). It has narrow, deeply divided leaves and is heat-tolerant and perennial. Both kinds of arugula have similar culinary uses. Arugula grows best in full sun to partial shade and moist, rich soil. Grow it in the cooler spring and fall as it tends to bolt and flower in hot weather, changing the flavor and stopping leaf growth. Because of this, some shade can be beneficial in hot climates to deter bolting. It also tolerates wet, mucky soil to some degree as well as light frosts. Seeds may be planted directly into the soil or started indoors before the last frost date for later transplanting. Thin seedlings out to 6 inches apart. If growing in containers, use a minimum pot size of 3 gallons and a minimum depth of 4 to 6 inches. Plants can self-seed in the garden, though they seldom run the risk of becoming a weed or escaping into natural areas. Plants mature quickly, within 40 to 50 days, and can be harvested after 6 weeks. Pick young leaves as older leaves have a bitter flavor. Stagger plantings by one or two weeks for a continuous harvest throughout the season. Once plants bolt in the summer, the flowers and seed pods can be harvested as well. Click here to see a calendar of planting schedules, time-to-harvest, and recommended spacing. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Few serious problems, though minor diseases may occur such as bacterial leaf spot and powdery mildew. Aphids and flea beetles may cause problems. Damping off of seedlings is infrequent but possible. VIDEO Created by Homegrown featuring Bill Lord , former Area Specialized Agent for NC State Extension
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
Less than 12 inches; 12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Rosulate
Leaf shape
Oblanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire; Lobed
Leaf feel
Fleshy
Leaf value
Edible
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Basal leaves are pinnately lobed, 4-10 small lateral lobes and a large terminal lobe. Stem leaves are small with entire margins.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Gold/Yellow; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Edible
Flower form
Corymb
Flower shape
Cross
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Four-petaled yellow, cream or white flowers up to an inch in size that grow in corymbs. Petals have purplish veins. Stamens are yellow.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Green
Fruit type
Siliqua
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Long, beaked pods 0.5-1.5" containing two rows of several seeds.
Stem color
Green
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Mediterranean to China and Arabian Peninsula
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit; Leaves; Flowers; Seeds
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Siliqua
Edibility
Leaves, flowers, seed pods, and seeds are edible. Harvest leaves and seed pods when young as they get tough and bitter with age. Harvest only as needed as leaves do not keep long in the refrigerator after harvesting.