365 Urban Species. #116: Garlic Mustard

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Urban species #116: Garlic mustard Alliaria petiolata

Most weeds are early successional plants that quickly colonize disturbed areas, and then disappear as the ecosystem matures. Dandelions, for example, grow in lawns, gardens, and vacant lots, but are usually absent from densely forested areas. Garlic mustard, on the other hand, can grow in the deep shade of mature woodlands. This fact is very worrisome, as it means that as this invasive plant spreads, it will directly compete with native forest plants, many of which are already rare.

Despite the fact that, like most members of the mustard and cabbage family, it is edible, garlic mustard is not eaten by most North American herbivores. Human wild food enthusiasts can harvest the leaves for a garlic-flavored pesto sauce or similar dish. It was introduced from Europe, for use as an table green.

Garlic mustard has been noticed in our area only in recent years. I have noticed that it has appeared in Olmsted Park and the Riverway within the past two or three years, and it is spreading fast. At work it is one of the handful of invasive species that we actively try to control. An article I wrote about garlic mustard control appears here.



Garlic mustard growing in a wooded part of the Riverway:


Close-up of the flower. The shape and configuration of the flower is typical of plants in the family Brassicaceae, the cabbages and mustards.


The foliage on this pile of weeds has wilted since it was pulled the day before, but the flowers have bent upward, offering themselves up to their pollinators before they perish.