Hoary Alyssum
Berteroa incana
Also listed as Alyssum incanum, Farsetia incana
Also known as Hoary False Alyssum, Hoary Alison, Hoary False Madwort
Climate Match for your location
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Hoary alyssum is a short-lived perennial or biennial with small white flowers and silvery-hairy foliage. It is drought-tolerant and often considered invasive in dry regions.
Why grow it
Hoary alyssum establishes quickly in poor soils and low-rainfall settings where many ornamental alternatives struggle, making it useful for erosion control or temporary ground coverage on marginal land. Its small white flowers and fine silvery foliage offer fine-textured visual interest in xeric gardens. Compared to other drought-tolerant crucifers, it requires minimal inputs once established, though it is shorter-lived than some perennial alyssum species.
Watch out for
Seedlings can be slow to establish in competition with existing vegetation, so prepare seedbeds or direct-seed into cleared ground for best results. In favorable conditions with adequate moisture, plants may self-seed prolifically, requiring management if you wish to contain spread. It performs better in well-drained soils and may decline in areas with poor drainage or high humidity.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Brassicaceae
Native Range
Central and Eastern Europe
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Hoary alyssum is a short-lived perennial or biennial with small white flowers and silvery-hairy foliage. It is drought-tolerant and often considered invasive in dry regions.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Hoary Alyssum grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Hoary alyssum establishes quickly in poor soils and low-rainfall settings where many ornamental alternatives struggle, making it useful for erosion control or temporary ground coverage on marginal land. Its small white flowers and fine silvery foliage offer fine-textured visual interest in xeric gardens. Compared to other drought-tolerant crucifers, it requires minimal inputs once established, though it is shorter-lived than some perennial alyssum species.
Watch out for
Seedlings can be slow to establish in competition with existing vegetation, so prepare seedbeds or direct-seed into cleared ground for best results. In favorable conditions with adequate moisture, plants may self-seed prolifically, requiring management if you wish to contain spread. It performs better in well-drained soils and may decline in areas with poor drainage or high humidity.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Brassicaceae
Native Range
Central and Eastern Europe
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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