ExplorePlants

hoary alyssum

Berteroa incana

Hoary alyssum is a pretty plant with soft, grayish leaves and small white flowers. It grows in many places and can be found blooming in the summer, making it a lovely sight in gardens and fields.

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The hoary alyssum has many small, four-petaled white flowers clustered at the top of fuzzy, grey-green stems. Its narrow, lance-shaped leaves are also covered in fine, star-shaped hairs, giving the plant a soft, frosted appearance.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderBrassicalesFamilyBrassicaceaeGenusBerteroa
hoary alyssum
flowering trait badgenitrogen_fixing trait badgeornamental trait badgebiennial trait badge
hoary alyssum

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Hoary alyssum can make horses sick if they eat too much!

It often pops up in sunny places like roadsides and fields!

Its fuzzy leaves look like frost, even on hot days!

Its scientific name means 'hoary mustard', but it's not a true alyssum!

Special abilities

Ability

Fuzzy Shield

Hoary alyssum has tiny star-shaped hairs on its leaves that help it store water and deter hungry plant-eaters.

Ability

Speedy Spreader

This plant can produce thousands of small seeds that scatter widely, helping it quickly colonize new open areas.

Ability

Tough Roots

Hoary alyssum has a strong taproot that helps it survive in dry, poor soils where other plants struggle.

Measurements & details

Height
30-80 cm
Spread
20-40 cm
Flower Size
0.3-0.5 cm
Bloom Season
Summer to Fall
Edible
No
Toxicity
Moderate
Lifecycle
Biennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Honey bee

Apis mellifera

Its tiny flowers provide nectar and pollen.

eats

Small white butterfly

Pieris rapae

Caterpillars sometimes feed on its leaves.

pollinates

Common eastern bumblebee

Bombus impatiens

Bumblebees visit its small white blossoms.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always check with an adult before touching or picking plants.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is hoary alyssum?

30-80 cm

How wide does hoary alyssum spread?

20-40 cm

How big are the flowers on hoary alyssum?

0.3-0.5 cm

When does hoary alyssum bloom?

Summer to Fall

Is hoary alyssum edible?

No

Is hoary alyssum toxic?

Moderate

What is hoary alyssum's lifecycle?

Biennial

How is hoary alyssum pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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