Invasive Species: Garlic Mustard

Alliaria petiolata

Garlic mustard was brought from Europe in the 1800s for food and medical uses.

It was first documented in 1959 in Multnomah County.

Why is it important to control?

Garlic mustard produces a prodigious amount of seeds. These germinate and grow earlier in the spring than natives, blocking sunlight and outcompeting the native plants for moisture and nutrition. By completely blanketing the area they exclude habitat for native species such as trilliums, wild ginger, and others. Garlic mustard’s roots release chemicals that disrupt the important fungal network in the soil, inhibiting growth in important species like trees.

How can you identify it?

Picture of young garlic mustardPhoto of garlic mustard in flower
Habitat: Moist to dry forest areas, streamside, flood plains, forest edges, roadsides, disturbed lands
Life Cycle: Biennial – rosette 1st year, flowering 2nd year
Height: 1-4ft
Leaf Description: Rosette’s have round, heart shaped leaves. Flowering stalk leaves are more triangular. Both have round, toothed edges.
Fruit & Flower Description: Four petaled white flowers in button-shaped clusters. Fruits are slender, upright capsules.
Bloom Time: Early spring

How do you control it?

  • For small areas, hand pulling is the best method. Do this before they set fruit. Put the plants in the garbage. Do not compost.

  • Hand pulling while the soil is moist assists in getting as much of the taproot out as possible.

  • Seeds survive in the soil for up to 10 years.

  • Herbicide control:  Oregon State University Extension recommends a triclopyr or glyphosate based herbicide. Take care to avoid drift and be cautious near crops. FOLLOW ALL LABEL DIRECTIONS!

  • The Oregon Department of Agriculture has no approved biocontrols.

How to report it?

There are various ways you can report this noxious weed.

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