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Overview
Hirschfeldia is a small genus in the mustard family (Brassicaceae), represented chiefly by H. incana, known as summer mustard, shortpod mustard, or Mediterranean mustard. A fast-growing annual to short-lived perennial, it begins as a flat rosette of lobed, roughly hairy grey-green leaves, then sends up a wiry, branched flowering stem 1-6 feet (0.3-1.8 m) tall. Small four-petalled yellow flowers about 0.25-0.4 inch (6-10 mm) across open in slender clusters over a long season, followed by short pods pressed close to the stem, each tipped with a stout beak holding a single seed. Native to the Mediterranean Basin and North Africa, Hirschfeldia has spread to dry, disturbed, and roadside ground in mild climates worldwide. It is an aggressive colonizer of bare soil and is listed as an invasive weed in California and other parts of western North America, where it crowds out native annuals. The plant resprouts from a deep taproot after cutting, which makes it persistent in disturbed sites.
Native Range
Hirschfeldia is native to the Mediterranean Basin and North Africa. H. incana has naturalized as a weed across western North America, South America, Australia, and other mild-climate regions, especially on roadsides and disturbed land.Suggested Uses
Hirschfeldia is rarely grown on purpose; it appears mainly as a wild and roadside plant and a colonizer of disturbed ground. The flowers are an early nectar source for bees and other insects in waste areas. In managed landscapes it is treated as a weed to be removed rather than a planting.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 6'
Width/Spread8" - 2'
Colors
Bloom Information
Hirschfeldia flowers over a long season from spring into autumn, and nearly year-round in mild coastal climates. The small yellow flowers open in clusters as the branched stem lengthens. Seed sets continuously behind the flowers, and a single plant can produce thousands of seeds.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
grey-green, roughly hairyGrowing 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