Invasive Species: Garlic Mustard

Most of us here in Wisconsin have heard of garlic mustard and know that it has become a problem in our wooded areas. But do you know why?

Garlic mustard is native to Europe and was thought to have been brought to the east coast of the USA in the 1800s as an herb. It is edible: it has a garlicky flavor and can be used to make pesto! But, animals do not eat it.

It’s one of the first plants to pop up in the spring, and its wide leaves take up most of the sunlight that other native plants need to grow. In addition, it has a large root system that is very effective at soaking up available moisture.

Once the plant flowers and is pollinated, it is able to produce anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand seeds. That per plant! No wonder it can take over an area so quickly! The seeds can also stay viable in the soil for up to ten years, so once you have garlic mustard, it’s a long term battle.

Finally, it’s been discovered that garlic mustard can decrease the animal biodiversity in an area - not just the plant biodiversity. Animals like salamanders and frogs are less likely to inhabit an area covered by garlic mustard because the plant produces a chemical that changes the makeup of the soil.

What can you do? In the spring, pull as much garlic mustard as you can!!! Bag it up and send it to the landfill. (Don’t compost it.) The best time is before it flowers to prevent seeds from developing. It’s not glamorous or fun, but you can rest easy knowing you did your part for the native plants and animals in our area.