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Plant care

Many-haired Draba (Many-haired Whitlowgrass) care

Draba polytricha

Also called Many-haired Draba, Many-haired Whitlowgrass.

RHS H7USDA 4–8Pet-safeIndoor 6–10 cm tall in flower

Watering rhythm

10-14days

Every 10–14 days during growth; almost dry in winter

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Light

Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)

Soil

Extremely well-drained volcanic or gritty mineral mix

Humidity

20–40%

Temp

-20–20°C

Pet safety

Pet-safe

Mature size

6–10 cm tall in flower

Care at a glance

Light

Many-haired Draba needs sun on the leaves, not just bright ambient room light. Requires full, unobstructed sun to maintain its characteristic dense, silver-hairy cushion. Shade causes the cushion to open up and the silvery stellate-hair covering to lose definition. Alpine house cultivation provides optimal light control. A south or west-facing windowsill in the northern hemisphere is the default; anywhere else, expect the plant to stretch and pale out within a season.

Watering

Water many-haired draba every 10–14 days during growth; almost dry in winter. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Water with extreme care at the base only; the stellate hairs create a hydrophobic surface that sheds water but the hairs mat when wet, encouraging rot beneath. Withhold water almost entirely in winter. Pumice or grit compost drains rapidly.

Soil and pot

Many-haired Draba grows best in extremely well-drained volcanic or gritty mineral mix. A mix of 60% pumice or lava grit, 20% loam, and 20% leaf mould reflects the species' volcanic rock habitat in Turkey. Neutral to slightly alkaline pH (6.8–7.5). Avoid all peat or moisture-retentive components. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Many-haired Draba sits happiest at around 20–40% humidity and -20–20°C (-4–68°F). Very low humidity and high airflow are essential. The stellate leaf hairs mat and retain moisture in humid conditions, causing fungal rot beneath the canopy. Alpine house cultivation is strongly recommended; avoid outdoor exposure to persistent rain. If you keep the room above year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed many-haired draba sparingly. Apply a single very dilute low-nitrogen alpine feed (e.g. 3-7-5) in early spring only. This species is adapted to extremely nutrient-poor volcanic substrates; any enrichment encourages soft, disease-prone growth. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on many-haired draba in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Matted hair rot — Stellate hairs mat when wet, trapping moisture against the leaves and leading to fungal rot spreading through the cushion. Overhead rain protection in an alpine house is the best prevention; avoid any overhead watering at all times.
  • Cushion die-back after stress — The plant can collapse suddenly after a wet period, heavy frost, or root disturbance. Act quickly: cut away dead portions, dust with sulphur, and replant healthy sections in fresh, dry gritty compost.
  • Poor establishment after repotting — Draba polytricha resents root disturbance. Repot only when essential, in early spring before growth begins, keeping root ball intact and disturbance minimal. Ensure the fresh compost is very gritty and free-draining.

Propagation

Take individual rosette cuttings very carefully in early summer after flowering, avoiding damage to the stellate hairs. Root in dry, gritty propagation mix in a well-ventilated alpine house; do not mist. Seed can be sown fresh in autumn with cold stratification. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Many-haired Draba is pet-safe. Draba polytricha (Brassicaceae) has no toxic compounds reported in veterinary or toxicological literature. The genus is not listed as toxic by the ASPCA. The stellate leaf hairs may cause mild mechanical irritation if ingested in quantity, but no clinically significant toxic principle is known. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Many-haired Draba care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Draba polytricha?

Draba polytricha is most commonly called Many-haired Draba, but it is also known as Many-haired Draba, Many-haired Whitlowgrass. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Many-haired Draba apply identically to anything sold as Many-haired Whitlowgrass.

How much light does many-haired draba need?

Many-haired Draba grows best in direct sun (at least 4-6 hours). Requires full, unobstructed sun to maintain its characteristic dense, silver-hairy cushion. Shade causes the cushion to open up and the silvery stellate-hair covering to lose definition. Alpine house cultivation provides optimal light control.

How often should I water many-haired draba?

Water many-haired draba every 10–14 days during growth; almost dry in winter. Water with extreme care at the base only; the stellate hairs create a hydrophobic surface that sheds water but the hairs mat when wet, encouraging rot beneath. Withhold water almost entirely in winter. Pumice or grit compost drains rapidly. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is many-haired draba toxic to cats and dogs?

Many-haired Draba is pet-safe. Draba polytricha (Brassicaceae) has no toxic compounds reported in veterinary or toxicological literature. The genus is not listed as toxic by the ASPCA. The stellate leaf hairs may cause mild mechanical irritation if ingested in quantity, but no clinically significant toxic principle is known.

What USDA hardiness zone does many-haired draba grow in?

Many-haired Draba is rated for USDA zone 4–8 and RHS hardiness H7. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Many-haired Draba deep-dive guides

Every aspect of many-haired draba care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Many-haired Draba qualifies for 12 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Many-haired Draba is also commonly called Many-haired Draba or Many-haired Whitlowgrass.