Berteroa incana
Hoary alyssum
(c) Anders Hastings, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Anders Hastings · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Berteroa incana (Hoary alyssum) is a non-native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by Only Berteroa species in California, distinguished by deeply notched white petals and hoary pubescence.
Hoary alyssum is a naturalized perennial found in mountain and plateau regions in disturbed areas and fields at elevations below 2,800 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces white flowers with four to six millimeter petals that are deeply lobed. Growing with erect stems 20 to 80 centimeters tall, the plant is densely hairy throughout its structure. Its basal leaves are oblanceolate, 3.5 to 8 centimeters long, with entire or slightly wavy edges. The fruit is 5 to 8.5 millimeters long with a slender style and lens-shaped seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Only Berteroa species in California, distinguished by deeply notched white petals and hoary pubescence
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Disturbed areas, fields
Elevation: < 2800 m
California counties: Lassen, San Bernardino, Monterey, Placer
Outside California: to British Columbia, eastern North America, native to Eurasia
Bloom period
Berteroa incana blooms May-Sep.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Smelowskia: Berteroa petals split nearly in half; Smelowskia petals entire or shallowly notched.; vs Descurainia: Berteroa has white flowers with deeply split petals; Descurainia has tiny yellow flowers.; vs Alyssum: Berteroa petals deeply two-lobed; Alyssum petals shallowly notched or entire.; vs Lobularia: Berteroa petals split nearly to base; Lobularia (sweet alyssum) petals only slightly notched.; vs Euclidium: Berteroa has deeply split white petals; Euclidium has entire petals and distinctive warty fruits.
Frequently asked questions
Is Berteroa incana native to California?
No. Berteroa incana is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Berteroa incana bloom?
Berteroa incana blooms May-Sep.
Where in California does Berteroa incana grow?
Berteroa incana occurs in Lassen, San Bernardino, Monterey, Placer, at elevations of < 2800 m.
What plant family does Berteroa incana belong to?
Berteroa incana is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Berteroa.
Is Berteroa incana invasive in California?
Berteroa incana is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.