Garlic Mustard

The image shows a field of identical plants. The plants have green arrow shaped leaves with sharp points along the edges. The plants have small clusters of white flowers. There are branches with no leaves above the plants.

Other names: Garlic Mustard, Hedge Garlic, Sauce-Alone, Jack-by-the-Hedge, Poor Man’s Mustard, Jack-in-the-Bush, Garlic Root, Garlic Wort, Mustard Root, Alliaria petiolata

Where did it come from?

Garlic mustard was brought from Europe in the mid-1800s to be cultivated for food and medicine.

Why is it invasive?

Garlic mustard can take over the forest under story displacing native plants and interfering with growth of the remaining plants. It can also host a variety of viruses that can attack both wild and cultivated plants.

How do you prevent its spread?

Remove any garlic mustard plants growing on your property. Make sure to properly dispose of it (e.g. throw in trash or carefully burn) to avoid spreading it further.

Resources:

♦ Species assessment

♦ Garlic Mustard Species Profile

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Image credit: David