Berteroa incana
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ber-TER-oh-a in-KAN-nuh
- Description
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Hoary alyssum is a biennial that can be a short-lived perennial or annual wildflower in the mustard family (Brassicaceae). It is native to Europe and Asia and has spread to other countries in contaminated crop seeds. It is now found in all states except the southernmost. It is an aggressive invader in fields, rangeland, pastures and other disturbed sites and is listed as a noxious weed in several states.
Hoary alyssum grows in full sun, tolerates alkaline and infertile soils and prefers well-drained sandy or rocky soils. It will grow 1 to 3 feet tall and can produce seeds throughout the summer.
It has delicate white blooms that appear in clusters in mid-spring through early fall. The leaves have a gray-green color due to the dense star-shaped hairs present. Young plants have a basal rosette of leaves that often die down when flowering occurs, leaving stem leaves. Stems are also densely hairy.
Control is by hand pulling or tilling until the seed bank has been depleted. There is no successful chemical control. It is a problem for horses in a field.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Root rot can occur in poorly drained soils.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Berteroa
- Species:
- incana
- Family:
- Brassicaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Biennial
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, China
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a round, flat pod ¼ inch long with the style persistent at the tip and contains many seeds. They are spaced along the length of the elongated branching stems.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Long racemes of small 4 petaled flowers with 6 yellow-green stamens. The petals are deeply lobed giving the impression of 8 petals. Clusters are 1-2 inches across. Blooms until frost.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Velvety
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Oblanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 1½ to 3 inches long, up to ½ inch wide, toothless, alternate leaves have a pointed or blunt tip and are stalkless. The dense star-shaped hairs give them a grayish-green color. Young plants have a basal rosette of leaves that typically wither away by flowering time. Basal leaves are hairy, oblanceolate and up to 3 inches long with smooth to slightly wavy margins and long stalks
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Single or multi-stem densley hairy.
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Landscape:
- Problems:
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
