Download What is Garlic Mustard?

What is Garlic Mustard?
Garlic Mustard is a cool-season, biennial
(ie two-year growth cycle) herb with stalked,
triangular to heartshaped, coarsely toothed
leaves that give off an odor of garlic when
crushed (particularly new leaves).
First-year plants appear only as a cluster of green
leaves close to the ground. Clusters remain green
through the winter and develop into flowering
plants the following spring.
Flowering plants of Garlic Mustard reach from 0.6
to 1 m in height and produce button-like clusters
of small white flowers, each with four petals in
the shape of a cross.
Beginning in May, tiny seeds are produced in erect,
slender pods, and become shiny black when
mature. In dense woodland stands, seed
production can range from 9,500 to over 100,000
seeds per square metre per year. When mature,
the capsules burst open and can throw seeds
several metres. Seeds can remain
alive in the soil for five years
or more. Seeds quickly
sprout in disturbed soil,
and disturbing soil with
seeds in it will cause
more seeds to sprout.
Further distribution
is mostly by humans,
pets, and other
animals
accidentally
carrying seeds in
shoe treads, or bike
treads, or paws.
Roads and trails are
prime corridors for
garlic mustard invasion.
Populations spread
an average of
6,400 km2
per year in
North America!
Garlic Mustard Pesto
Garlic Mustard Pesto Mini Pizzas
1 cup fresh garlic mustard leaves, washed and packed
1 cup fresh basil leaves, washed & packed
3 tbsp lightly toasted pine nuts
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup olive oil
salt to taste
4 thin whole grain buns
8 tbsp garlic mustard pesto
(or to taste)
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
additional topping optional
In a food processor, mince the basil and garlic
mustard leaves. Add the pine nuts and process again.
Turn the blend out into a bowl, and mix the parmesan
cheese through. Stir in the oil. Salt to taste.
Preheat oven to 400 F. Separate the buns and lay out
face up on a baking tray. Spread garlic mustard pesto
onto each half bun. Top with shredded cheese,
parmesan, and additional toppings as desired.
Bake 10 minutes or until cheese is melted/browned.
Serves 4.
Note: Use this recipe to make the pesto for the
Garlic Mustard Pesto Mini Pizzas. Choose leaves
from second year flowering stems, as they are less
bitter than first year basal leaves.
Garlic Mustard Salsa
In a medium sized bowl (or food processor),
combine:
5
Roma tomatoes, diced
20 garlic mustard leaves, minced
1 cup mixed red, green & yellow pepper
1/2 cup sweet onion, diced
1
Jalapeno pepper,
seeds removed, minced
2 tbsp
white vinegar
1 tsp
maple syrup
salt to taste
For chunky salsa, stir ingredients together. For finer
texture, process using a hand blender, food processor
or similar. Serve with tortilla chips. Shredded cheese
and sour cream optional.
Garlic Mustard FYI
Garlic Mustard is one of the few non-native herbs able to invade and dominate
both disturbed and undisturbed forest understory communities. Its ability to
grow in low light, high seed production, and relatively rapid spread make Garlic
Mustard a strong competitor, dominating forest groundcover within 5-7 years of
introduction. It takes resources away from native spring woodland plants such as
Spring Beauty, White Trillium, Trout Lily, Sweet Cicely and many others. Because
it begins growing very early in the spring, Garlic Mustard has a head start on
other flowering plants and tree seedlings.
Garlic mustard changes the soil, impacts natural associations between plants and
fungi by destroying the fungi, and reduces forest ecosystem biodiversity. Garlic
mustard appears to reduce habitat quality for several species of salamanders and
molluscs, through changes in forest litter layer depth and composition. Insect
communities are also impacted by the presence of garlic mustard. The impacts
of garlic mustard on vertebrates are largely unknown. Deer do not eat it, but
encourage its spread by grazing on native competitors, disturbing the soil, and
carrying seed from one location to another.
Trails, parking areas, transportation corridors and recreation sites in suitable
habitats are known sites of early infestation. There are a number of approaches
to removal including cutting, pulling, mulching, native species planting, and in
controlled situations, experts may use fire or herbicides. The best approach is
to limit the spread of garlic mustard in the first place. Never buy this plant at a
nursery or plant it in your garden. Spread the word about this invasive species,
restrain pets in invaded areas, and brush off any bits of mud or vegetation from
clothing, boots and paws before leaving infested areas.