Plant Profile: Berteroa incana

Taxonomy: Berteroa incana

Names

False Hoary Madwort, Hoary Alyssum, Hoary Berteroa, Hoary False Madwort

  • Photo of Berteroa incana (Berteroa incanas)

Phonetic Spelling:ber-TER-oh-a in-KAN-nuh

Genus:Berteroa

Species:incana

Family:Brassicaceae

Hoary Alyssum is a biennial plant that may also behave as a short-lived perennial or annual wildflower belonging to the mustard family. Originating from Europe and Asia, it showcases delicate white flowers that bloom in clusters from mid-spring to early fall. This species is prevalent across much of the United States, with the exception of the southern states, and is classified as a noxious weed in 46 states.

In terms of pests and diseases, Hoary Alyssum can be invasive and is frequently encountered in dry, disturbed environments.

Berteroa incana Feature Summary

Berteroa incana Image Gallery

Tags

#annual
#white flowers
#weedy
#seeds
#short lifespan
#problem for horses
#non-toxic for dogs
#non-toxic for cats

Similar Plants

Berteroa incana Feature Summary

Attributes
Fruit
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.
Flowers
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.
Spring
Summer
Fall
4-5 petals/rays
< 1 inch
Leaves
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
Green
Gray/Silver
Alternate
Rosulate
Linear
Oblanceolate
1-3 inches
Velvety
< 1 inch
Stem
Single or multi-stem densley hairy.
Hairy (pubescent)
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Annual
Wildflower
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Good Drainage
Occasionally Dry
Landscape
Problem for Horses
Weedy

Berteroa incana Attributes

Berteroa incana: Country Or Region Of Origin

Europe, China

Berteroa incana: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Berteroa incana: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Berteroa incana Fruit

Berteroa incana: 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.

Berteroa incana: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Berteroa incana: Fruit Color

grass
Green

Berteroa incana: Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Berteroa incana Flowers

Berteroa incana: 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.

Berteroa incana: Flower Color

filter_vintage
White

Berteroa incana: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Berteroa incana: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Berteroa incana: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Berteroa incana: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Berteroa incana: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Berteroa incana Leaves

Berteroa incana: 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

Berteroa incana: Leaf Color

spa
Gray/Silver
spa
Green

Berteroa incana: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Berteroa incana: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Berteroa incana: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Berteroa incana: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Berteroa incana: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Berteroa incana: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Berteroa incana: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Berteroa incana: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Berteroa incana Stem

Berteroa incana: Stem Description

Single or multi-stem densley hairy.

Berteroa incana: Stem Color

grass
Green

Berteroa incana: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Berteroa incana: Stem Surface

Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)

Berteroa incana Whole Plant Traits

Berteroa incana: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Berteroa incana: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Berteroa incana: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Berteroa incana Cultural Conditions

Berteroa incana: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Berteroa incana: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Berteroa incana Landscape

Berteroa incana: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy