Garlic Mustard Plant growing in leaf litter of a forest.
NPS photo
Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolate) is a biennial flowering plant. It is native to Europe, western and central Asia, north-western Africa, Morocco, Iberia and the British Isles, north to northern Scandinavia,[2] and east to northern Pakistan and Xinjiang in western China.
Annual Growth Rate: 21-23 ft. Location:
Widespread
Initially at forests edges
Throughout forested zones if left unchecked
Impact:
Soil alteration.
Secretes chemicals hindering biodiversity of native species.
Alters nutrient cycling – the movement of essential elements and compounds within the soil – impacting native plants.
Alters tree seed development/growth.
A toxic decoy plant that misleads some butterfly species into laying their eggs on it when no food source exists.
Management:
Park biologists are monitoring existing locations and are addressing new growth areas as they are detected.
What Can You Do?
As a devoted visitor to Gettysburg National Military Park, you can see the direct impact the Japanese Barberry is having on your park. During the warm weather months, we host a series of Volunteer Work Days. Sign up for one or all of these to lend a hand! You have the opportunity to aid our staff to combat this invading species and perhaps slow or halt their march across our fields, our hills, our stone walls, our fences, or even around our monuments.
Reporting all sightings of Garlic Mustard.
For small infestations pulling plants by hand is ideal.
