Skaneateles Conservation Area/Invasive species/Alliaria petiolata

Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard)
Garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata (M. Bieb.) Cavara and Grande (formerly Alliaria officinalis) is often considered to be one of the worst forest invaders of the Northeast and Midwest. It’s a biennial herb that develops a short rosette the first summer and flowering stalk with hundreds (occasionally thousands ) of seeds the following May.

Invasiveness of Alliaria petiolata
Besides shading out native plants, garlic mustard is allelopathic, releasing chemicals that inhibit other herbs and grasses in the forest understory.

Alliaria petiolata produces antifungal compounds, including glucosinalates and cyanide, some of which end up in the soil where they affect the mineral dynamics and nutrient availability in ways that negatively impact the growth of many native plant species.

Large stands of garlic mustard reduce light availability in Spring for species growing on forest floor.

Control of Alliaria petiolata
Garlic mustard can be easily pulled by hand, but care must be taken to remove the flowering parts from the site as they continue to ripen after the plant is pulled up. Seeds remain viable in and on the ground for up to five years, so continued follow-up is required.

As with other invasive plants, garlic mustard establishes itself in disturbed sites. Limiting grazing and foot traffic can prevent disturbance and subsequent spread of this and other invasive plants.