Garlic Mustard

(Alliaria petiolata)

 

Color Photograph: Copyright Nearctica.com, Inc.

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)

Alien: Native of Europe.

Identification: Flowers white, in small, apical clusters. Leaves heart-shaped, stalked, with rounded, coarse teeth and a garliclike odor when crushed. Plant 1 to 3 feet in height.

Distribution: Throughout most of eastern North America and in scattered localities in the west and Plains States.

Habitat: This species is found in a variety of forest types as well as roadsides, wood margins, and other disturbed areas.

Flowering period: April to July.

Note: This species has been referred to as Alliaria officinalis. This pernicious weed has a terrible effect on the native woodland species where it occurs.

Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)

Similar Species:

The distinctive leaves with their garlic-like odor make identification of this species easy.

Similar Species

No Similar Species