Garlic Mustard
Alliaria petiolata
Family: Brassicaceae (Mustard family)Native: Europe, Western and Central Asia, and Northwest AfricaIdentified: Mar 11, 2026
A biennial herb characterized by its heart-shaped or triangular leaves with coarsely toothed margins. In its first year, it grows as a low-lying rosette of green leaves that smell like garlic when crushed.
Learn more about Garlic Mustard in the encyclopedia →Care instructions
This is considered an highly invasive species in North America and is not recommended for cultivation. It thrives in shaded to partially shaded moist woodland environments but can adapt to many soil types. Control involves hand-pulling before it sets seed.