Garlic mustard is one of the earliest invasive species to appear in the spring.
No doubt you’ve noticed garlic mustard spreading across Wisconsin roadsides, woodlands, and forested areas.
This highly invasive plant, introduced to the U.S. from Europe and Asia in the early 1800s, was initially valued for its uses in food, medicine, and erosion control.
However, GARLIC MUSTARD has now become a threat to native landscapes.
and WDNR lists it as RESTRICTED – Restricted
"It is considered an invasive species that causes or has the potential to cause significant environmental or economic harm, or harm to human health."
Garlic mustard starts to grow earlier in the season than our native plants and can easily outcompete them. It produces an abundance of seeds while its root system releases chemicals that alter soil composition and chemistry. This change in composition prohibits the growth of native plants in and around the vicinity of the invasive plant.
For these reasons garlic mustard can spread rapidly, creating a thick mass, smothering native wildflowers as well as tree and shrub seedlings.
This rapid growth destroys our healthy woodland landscape by eliminating native plant species that many birds, insects and other wildlife depend on.
Garlic mustard is a biennial herb that completes its life cycle over two years, starting from seed germination. In its first year, it develops small rosettes of leaves. During the second year, it grows a tall flowering stem, produces an abundance of seeds, and then dies.
Garlic mustard blooms in early spring into early summer.

YEAR ONE - leaf rosettes

YEAR TWO - tall flowering stems producing an abundance of seeds
CONTROL
Hand-pulling garlic mustard can be an effective means of control, as long as all parts of the plant and roots are removed. Removal of plants might need to be repeated due to seeds left in the soil.
For more information see below:
"Garlic mustard requires committed removal to control its spread. Removal should be done in the spring, before flowering and seed pod formation. Seed capsules release 100 to 10,000 seeds per year. Garlic mustard can continue to set seed after being pulled, so it should be removed before flowering." University of Minnesota -
Removing garlic mustard from our landscapes is more than just an act of conservation—it's a commitment to preserving the health and beauty of our natural ecosystems for generations to come.
By taking action, we can make a tangible difference. Let’s work together to protect the landscapes we love and ensure they thrive with diversity and life.

Waupaca Chain O'Lakes Association
Stewardship and Resources Committee
Chair(s): Julie Mazzoleni, Fawn Johnson