Diplotaxis tenuifolia is the heat-tolerant answer to the question every kitchen gardener eventually asks: what do I plant when the arugula bolts? Native to the Mediterranean basin and a member of the mustard family, wild arugula has narrower leaves than its more familiar cousin and a stronger, more assertive peppery flavor that mellows slightly when lightly cooked. The species name means "narrow leaf," which is an accurate description of the deeply cut, slender foliage that makes it visually distinct from standard arugula even before tasting it.

In the garden it is genuinely unfussy, tolerating poor, sandy soils and intermittent drought without complaint. It grows in full sun or dappled shade, can be treated as a perennial in zones 5 through 9, and produces harvestable leaves from spring through fall. The small yellow flowers that appear in late summer are edible and add a mild bite to salads, making the entire plant useful through its growing season. Sow seeds after the last frost; some protection from extreme summer heat or hard frost will extend the season at both ends. It has naturalized in disturbed areas across North America but has no record of invasive behavior in North Carolina.