Overview
Berteroa incana is an annual to short-lived perennial in the mustard family, growing 1 to 3 feet (30-90 cm) tall on branched, gray-green stems covered in star-shaped hairs that give the whole plant a hoary, grayish cast. The narrow, lance-shaped leaves are 0.8-2.4 inches (2-6 cm) long, untoothed, and softly hairy. From early summer into autumn it carries elongating clusters of small white flowers about 0.2 inch (5 mm) across, with each of the four petals split deeply into two lobes so the bloom looks eight-petaled. The flowers give way to inflated, hairy, oval seedpods 0.2-0.3 inch (5-8 mm) long held upright along the stem. The plant has a taproot, self-sows heavily, and colonizes dry roadsides, fields, and disturbed ground on poor soil. It is toxic to horses, causing limb swelling and laminitis when eaten in quantity in hay or pasture. It blooms over a long season but has no fall foliage interest and dies back to a basal rosette or disappears entirely.
Native Range
Native to central and eastern Europe and western Asia, it has naturalized widely across North America, especially the northern United States and Canada. It grows on dry, disturbed, gravelly ground, roadsides, pastures, and field margins.Suggested Uses
Seldom planted by choice, it appears mainly as a weed of dry, disturbed ground rather than a garden subject. The summer flowers draw small bees and other pollinators where it is left standing. In pasture regions it is managed as a weed because of the risk it poses to horses.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 3'
Width/Spread8" - 1'4"
Bloom Information
White flowers open from June through September, the clusters lengthening as new buds form at the tip. Bloom and seed set overlap, so flowers and ripening pods appear together for much of summer. Plants can flower within weeks of germinating in warm conditions.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
Gray-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Drought Tolerance
Drought tolerant when established
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun on dry, poor, gravelly or sandy soil and tolerates drought, heat, and a wide pH range. It needs no feeding or irrigation and grows poorly only where soil is rich and moist. The taproot anchors plants in loose ground and lets them survive on disturbed sites. Self-sown seed germinates over a long season, so stands renew without replanting. Removing plants before the pods ripen limits spread. In pasture and hay it poses a risk to horses because of its toxicity.Pruning
No pruning is needed for this short-lived plant. Cutting or pulling before the pods ripen keeps seed from spreading. Mown plants can resprout and reflower from the base if the taproot survives.⚠️ Toxicity Warning
Toxic to petsPlanting Guide
Planting Methods & Timing
Planting Method
direct sow