Wild Arugula Vs Rocket Salad Arugula
Arugula: Wild Arugula Vs Rocket Salad
Wild arugula is a great addition to salads and cooked dishes. Another bonus is the Dr. Sebi Nutritional Guide recommends the use of wild arugula.
You can become confused when shopping for arugula because there are two main types of arugula, wild arugula and rocket salad.
People also call rocket salad “arugula,” but rocket salad is a different plant than wild arugula.
In addition, both plant use variations of the same names so you need to known how to differentiate between them.
Wild Arugula
Wild arugula’s botanical name is Diplotaxis tenuifolia or Sisymbrium tenuifolium and is native to Italy.
Some common names for wild arugula are sylvetta, sylvetta rocket, wild rocket, wild rocket salad, sand rocket, and wild Italian arugula.
Diplotaxis tenuifolia can grow up to 2 feet tall, has jagged leaves, produces a yellow flower, and its seeds take up to 14 days to germinate.
Learn About Health Supporting Foods on the Dr. Sebi Nutritional Guide »
Rocket Salad Arugula
Rocket salad is also an arugula, and is common to the Mediterranean region. When you go shopping for wild arugula you need to be aware of this because plain arugula and wild arugula are two different plants.
Rocket salad’s botanical name is Eruca sativa or E. vesicaria. Rocket salad’s common names are “arugula”, rocket arugula, rocket, rucola, rucoli, rugula, and roquette.
Farmers domesticated arugula to develop Eruca sativa to change its properties to make it more favorable for growing and consuming. Eruca sativa is a relative of wild arugula.
Arugula has a weaker peppery flavor than wild arugula. Eruca sativa can grow up to 3 feet tall, has lobbed leaves, produces a white flower, and takes 3 days to germinate.
Wild Arugula And Arugula Differences
Wild arugula is a natural plant, while producers cultivated arugula to make its properties more favorable. Its cultivation changed its natural nutrient makeup.
Wild arugula has a more peppery taste due to maintaining more of its original and natural compounds.
Wild arugula has jagged leaves compared to arugula’s lobbed leaves. The wild arugula plant also produces a yellow flower and the arugula plant produces a white flower.
Wild arugula and arugula share similar names like rocket and rocket salad. You must look for “wild” in the name if you intend to buy wild arugula, plus look for the jagged leaves.
