Garlic Mustard | Nebraska Invasive Species Council

Credit: Steven Katovich, Bugwood.org

General Information

Species Name: Alliaria petiolata

Also Known As: hedge garlic, sauce-alone, jack-by-the-hedge, poor man's mustard, jack-in-the-bush, garlic root, garlicwort, mustard root

Family: Brassicaceae (Mustard)

Growth Form: Forb

Life Span: Biennial

Flowering Dates: April-June

Origin: Europe

Toxic: No

Noxious: No

Why Is It Invasive?

Garlic mustard begins growing early in the season and forms dense patches, crowding out native or desirable vegetation. It also produces chemicals that inhibit the growth of other plants.

What Does It Look Like?

General Characteristics

In its first year, garlic mustard appears as a low-growing rosette. By its second year, garlic mustard produces tall stems and flowers. The plant emits a strong garlic odor when damaged.

Flowers

Small, white flowers with four petals. Flowers grow in clusters at the end of stems.

Leaves

Rosette leaves are kidney-shaped. In its second year, garlic mustard leaves are alternately arranged and heart shaped with finely toothed margins.

Stems

Stems are erect and may be single or branching, growing between 1-4 feet tall.

Seeds

Seeds are black, cylindrical, and ridged

Photos

A field of flowering garlic mustard surrounded by trees and a sunny sky.

Credit: Steven Katovich, Bugwood.org

Flowering garlic mustard with jagged green leaves in sunlight against a blurred green background.

Credit: Mary C Legg, Mary C Legg, Bugwood.org

Small white flower with green stems against a blurred green leafy background.

Credit: Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org

Textured, heart-shaped green leaves of garlic mustard by dry brown leaves and small seedlings.

Credit: Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org

Garlic mustard rosette on a forest floor with scattered dry leaves.

Credit: Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org

Tall green garlic mustard plant with clusters of small white flowers in a wooded, leafy environment.

Credit: Richard Gardner, Bugwood.org

Dense garlic mustard covering a forest floor.

Credit: Annemarie Smith, ODNR Division of Forestry, Bugwood.org

Forest clearing with dense growth of garlic mustard under spring sunlight.

Credit: Steven Katovich, Bugwood.org

Where Does It Grow?

Garlic mustard grows in forests, floodplains, field, and roadsides. It does well in a range of light conditions and is intolerant of acidic soils. It is widely dispersed throughout most states in the United States, including Nebraska.

How Does It Spread?

Garlic mustard was first discovered in the United States in 1868 and was intentionally introduced for food and medicinal uses. Garlic mustard reproduces via seeds, which are light enough to be carried by the wind. Seeds can also spread through human vectors, like attaching to clothes, pets, or in contaminated soil movement. Seeds can remain viable for up to 5 years.

How Do I Control It?

Garlic mustard control may take several years to be effective. Priority should be focused on preventing seed development and spread until the seed bank is depleted.

Mechanical

Hand pulling can be an effective control method if done before seeding. Pulling after seeding can increase seed dispersal. If hand pulling, be sure to remove the tap root and bag plants before placing them in a garbage receptacle.

Contact your county weed control authority to determine appropriate removal methods.

Cultural

One way that invasive plant seeds can spread is in soil. Sometimes plants are planted purposefully. You can prevent the spread of invasive plants.