Hoary False Madwort Berteroa incana
Other 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 shortlived perennial or annual wildflower in the mustard family. It is native to Europe and Asia and has delicate white blooms that appear in clusters in mid-spring through early fall. It is found in much of the USA except the southern states. Hoary Alyssum is listed as a noxious weed in 46 states.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: It can be weedy and is often found in dry disturbed areas.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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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 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
