Beach-heath (Hudsonia tomentosa, Gen. N. Amer. Pl. 2: 5 (1818))

Family: Cistaceae

Author: Nutt.

Bibliography: Gen. N. Amer. Pl. 2: 5 (1818)

Year: 1818

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Hudsonia

Vegetable: False

Observations: Subarctic America to NC. & E. U.S.A.

Description

Beach-heath, scientifically known as Hudsonia tomentosa, belongs to the family Cistaceae. This hardy plant is found in regions spanning from Subarctic America down to North Carolina, as well as across the eastern United States. The species was first described by Nuttall in 1818, as recorded in the second volume of “Genera of North American Plants”.

Recognizable by its characteristic appearance, Beach-heath thrives in sandy, well-drained soils, typically in coastal environments. Its resilience and adaptability to harsh, unstable habitats make it a vital component of dune ecosystems, where it helps to stabilize the sand and prevent erosion. This low-growing plant forms dense mats with its small, scale-like leaves covered in a fine layer of hair, which protect it from desiccating winds and salty conditions inherent to its habitat.

Hudsonia tomentosa blooms with small, bright yellow flowers, usually between late spring and early summer. These cheerful blossoms are a crucial source of nectar for various pollinators, including bees and butterflies, contributing to the biodiversity and health of coastal ecosystems.

The Beach-heath’s presence is not just limited to beaches; it is occasionally found in inland sandy areas, indicating its remarkable ability to colonize and thrive in nutrient-poor soils. Conservation efforts for this plant are essential, as it plays a significant role in maintaining the integrity of coastal environments against natural and anthropogenic disturbances.

In summary, the Beach-heath is a resilient and ecologically important plant with a broad geographic distribution in North America. Its adaptive features and contribution to the health of sandy ecosystems make it a species worthy of recognition and protection.

Common Names

Eng: beach-heath, sand golden-heather, sand-heather, woolly beachheather, woolly beach-heather, beach-heather, false heather, sand heather, woolly beach-heath, woolly hudsonia
Fra: hudsonie tomenteuse
En: Beach-heath, Woolly beachheather, SAND GOLDEN-HEATHER, Sand-heather, Woolly beach-heather, Beach-heather, False heather, Sand heather, Woolly beach-heath, Woolly hudsonia
Fr: Hudsonie tomenteuse

Synonyms

• Hudsonia ericoides subsp. tomentosa ((Nutt.) N.H.Nick. & J.T.Skog)
• Hudsonia ericoides (Richardson)
• Hudsonia maritima (Torr. ex Steud.)

Distribution

• Alberta (native)
• Connecticut (native)
• Delaware (native)
• Illinois (native)
• Indiana (native)
• Iowa (native)
• Labrador (native)
• Maine (native)
• Manitoba (native)
• Maryland (native)
• Masachusettes (native)
• Michigan (native)
• Minnesota (native)
• New Brunswick (native)
• New Hampshire (native)
• New Jersey (native)
• New York (native)
• North Carolina (native)
• North Dakota (native)
• Northwest Territorie (native)
• Nova Scotia (native)
• Ohio (native)
• Ontario (native)
• Prince Edward I. (native)
• Québec (native)
• Rhode I. (native)
• Saskatchewan (native)
• South Carolina (native)
• Vermont (native)
• Virginia (native)
• West Virginia (native)
• Wisconsin (native)

Additional Images

Leaf

Taken Nov 21, 2020 by Matthias Foellmer (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 4, 2022 by casey manera (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Nov 21, 2020 by Matthias Foellmer (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 21, 2020 by Matthias Foellmer (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Howard, R.A. (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Mar 20, 2016 by EOL − Michael Gochfeld (cc-by-nc)

Taken Aug 29, 2013 by EOL − David Yeany (cc-by-nc)

Flower

Taken May 30, 2020 by O True (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 28, 2021 by Fran Yuan (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 25, 2020 by Jean-Maurice Boissard (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5331111)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:124382-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Hudsonia tomentosa Nutt.)

Specifications

Growth form>: Multiple Stem

Growth habit>: Subshrub, Shrub

Growth rate>: Slow

Growth

Ph maximum: 6.9

Ph minimum: 5.5