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Garlic mustard

Back to Invasive Plant Photos and Information [1]

Garlic mustard *
Alliaria petiolata

garlic mustard

Life cycle: Biennial invasive prefers shady forest and floodplain. 
Growth habit: Round to kidney-shaped leaves in rosettes the first year. Following spring, forms erect 1- to 4-ft. shoots with more triangular leaves, and begins flowering and dies by summer. Terminal spikes of white, 4-petaled flowers.

garlic mustard flowers
Closeup of flowers
Photo: Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org

garlic mustard covering the forest floor
Garlic mustard growing in a natural area
Photo: Steven Katovich, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Reproduction: Mustard-like seeds in long, slender, upright capsules.

Additional Information

  • (PDF)  [2]HG88 - Invasive Plant Control in Maryland [2]
  • Herbaceous Invasives Control [3]
  • Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas [4]
  • Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas [5]

Recipes: (PDF) Garlic Mustard Recipes [6]

 

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Source URL: https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/garlic-mustard

Links
[1] https://extension.umd.edu/node/14494
[2] https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/_images/programs/hgic/Publications/HG88%20Invasive Plants.pdf
[3] https://extension.umd.edu/node/9922
[4] https://www.invasive.org/eastern/midatlantic/
[5] https://www.invasive.org/weedcd/pdfs/wgw/garlicmustard.pdf
[6] https://extension.umd.edu/sites/default/files/_docs/programs/hgic/garlic_mustard_recipes.pdf
[7] https://extension.umd.edu/sections/home-and-garden-information-center