Garlic Mustard: The Edible Invasive

Americorps • March 20, 2024

Have you ever heard of an invasive species that you can eat? Now you have! Garlic mustard, also called poor man’s mustard, hedge garlic, and garlic root, is an invasive species of plant found across the northern United States. It hails from Europe and Asia and was introduced to the United States in the 1800s as a food source. This plant is also thought to have herbal and medicinal properties and was even used for erosion control. The name garlic mustard comes from the garlic smell that its leaves and stems give off when crushed. This plant is indeed edible and should be harvested young when it’s less bitter. Older plants need to be cooked thoroughly because they contain cyanide. Please be sure to consult foraging safety guidelines, including only eating wild plants that you have 100% identified correctly .

Identification

Garlic mustard can be identified by a few key factors. In its first year, the plant has heart-shaped rosette leaves that grow at ground level. By its second year, it develops stems that are 1-4 feet long with small white flowers. These flowers have 4 petals each and bloom from early April to June. Garlic mustard also has long green seed pods that turn brown in the fall, and one individual plant can produce thousands of seeds. The plant occupies wooded areas and can tolerate a wide range of conditions, but it thrives in moist and shaded areas. Although garlic mustard is tolerant of many environmental factors, it does not do well in highly acidic soils.

Impact

Why is garlic mustard considered an invasive species? According to The Nature Conservancy , an invasive species is any species that is non-native and causes harm to the environment. Garlic mustard spreads very quickly and grows in dense colonies, outcompeting native plants for resources like sunlight and moisture. It emerges earlier in the spring than many native plants, reducing their chance to grow. Garlic mustard also exhibits a behavior called allelopathy , which is where it releases chemical compounds into the soil that limit the growth of other surrounding plants. This plant may potentially have negative effects on the surrounding wildlife as well, decreasing habitat for salamanders, insects, and tree seedlings ( New York Invasive Species Information ).

Management and Prevention

Garlic mustard can be controlled with two different methods: mechanical control and chemical control. Mechanical control involves hand-pulling the plants early in the season before flowering starts or at least before the plants start to seed. The optimum time to do this is in the spring when the soil is moist. When hand-pulling, try to remove at least the upper half of the roots to prevent a new stalk from forming. Seeds can remain viable for at least 5 years so hand-pulling efforts should continue for this length of time. This method works best with small invasions or areas recently invaded.

Chemical control involves the application of an herbicide, which is a substance designed to kill plants. In dense stands where there are no other plants present, a glyphosate-based herbicide such as RoundUp can be effective. Application of herbicide for garlic mustard is most effective in March or April when garlic mustard is one of the few plants actively growing. Extra caution must be taken to ensure that the herbicide does not harm any native plants in the area. Please check your local regulations on chemical treatments of invasive plants. This method works best with large invasions that cannot be controlled by hand-pulling alone. For more information on control methods, click HERE.

In terms of prevention , the goal is to prevent garlic mustard from establishing a population. Any disturbances in the environment that could contribute to an infestation should be minimized. This includes physical disturbances like walking or animals grazing. Monitoring the environment and pulling any plants as soon as they are introduced will also help an invasion from becoming established.

On the Ground

Want to learn how to help combat this invader in Michigan? Here’s your chance! MUCC’s On the Ground program is hosting a garlic mustard pull event on April 20, 2024, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) Parks and Recreation Division at Saugatuck Dunes State Park. This event will take place from 10 AM-1 PM. Volunteers will meet at the small parking area adjacent to the Felt Mansion. Gear, lunch, and a volunteer gift will be provided to all registered volunteers. Volunteers are also encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle, although water will be provided throughout the day. Registration will close on Friday, April 19, 2024 at 4 PM. For more information and to register, click HERE. For any additional questions, contact Sarah Scheitz at sscheitz@mucc.org. We hope to see you there!

Recent Posts

New Partnership: Certified Wildlife Habitat with National Wildlife Federation

By Olivia Triltsch • October 23, 2025
Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) is proud to announce a new partnership with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) to bring the Certified Wildlife Habitat ™ program to communities across Michigan. This collaboration connects MUCC’s long-standing commitment to conservation with NWF’s national effort to create, restore, and certify habitats that provide food, water, cover, and places to raise young. Together, the organizations aim to inspire individuals, schools, and communities to take action in their own backyards to support native species. Through this initiative, MUCC will help expand awareness of the Certified Wildlife Habitat program, integrate it into its volunteer network, and provide resources to landowners interested in enhancing habitat on their property. One of the greatest benefits for volunteers comes from the knowledge gained in understanding wildlife habitat enhancement, allowing for the application to private land habitat enhancement. In addition to this, much of the work we do for habitat can apply to a variety of species, from rabbits to wood ducks, even birds of prey. The partnership will also promote community engagement opportunities through educational events, workshops, and collaborative restoration projects. In coordination with efforts like the certified wildlife habitat, MUCC hopes to expand conservation efforts across Michigan. Our award-winning, statewide volunteer habitat program, On the Ground (OTG), works to conserve, protect, and enhance wildlife habitat. In 2025 alone, OTG worked with 739 volunteers across 27 habitat projects, from invasive species removal to river clean-ups. Through the hard work contributing over 2,900 volunteer hours, habitat stewards were able to improve 423 acres of land for wildlife conservation in Michigan. Although OTG projects are not active year-round, we encourage Michigan residents to continue land stewardship on both public and private lands. To qualify for certification through the Certified Wildlife Habitat program, a property must include: Three natural food sources One water source Two places for shelter Two places to raise young Two sustainable practices To determine if your habitat qualifies, visit the NWF website and take the habitat quiz or download the checklist. If your habitat needs native plants, check out Garden for Wildlife to find species native to your area. The $25 application fee includes a personalized paper certificate, a 1-year NWF membership, and the option to purchase lawn plaques and garden flags. Habitats located on school grounds do not have a fee to get certified, so check to see what you might need to qualify today. If you are interested in joining our On the Ground program for the 2026 season, stay connected through our Facebook , Instagram , and OTG webpage for upcoming events.

On the Ground Junior: Fall Event Recap

By Olivia Triltsch • October 16, 2025
In 2025, the On the Ground program conducted 8 junior projects with schools involving 316 students from across the state. From tree plantings to invasive species removal, these students worked to enhance 39.3 acres of public land after contributing over 200 volunteer hours. Visit our website to learn more information about our On the Ground program and On the Ground Junior . To wrap up the 2025 field season, the On the Ground program worked with two classrooms to enhance wildlife habitat and recreational access. Junior programs like these allow teachers to get their students out of the classroom and into hands-on learning about the importance of habitat work while meeting individuals in the field.

October NRC Recap

By Justin Tomei • October 9, 2025
The Natural Resources Commission met today, Thursday, October 9th for their October meeting. The commission reaffirmed its intent to allow for lethal year-round coyote management on public and private land via a unanimously passed resolution before passing fisheries orders, and tabling more for consideration in November. The commission passed Fisheries Orders 210.26 , and 254.25 before tabling 206.26, 219.26 , and 253.26 . Commissioner John Walters provided an amendment to the fisheries order to expand underwater spearfishing opportunities to most of the Great Lakes, allowing for some spatial closures for the protection of particularly sensitive areas. The commission took steps to make good on their promise to allow year-round coyote management, unanimously passing a resolution more clearly stating their intent and what the pending wildlife conservation order will look like. The next meeting is Thursday November 6 in Lansing.
More Posts