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March 6, 2025

Bonus - March Weed of the Month: Foraging Garlic Mustard

Reader comments and questions inspired this bonus edition of the March Weed of the Month

By Emilie Justen, The Minnesota Department of Agriculture -

The March edition of Weed of the Month, “Bite Back – Taking Advantage of an Invasive Problem,” generated a lot of interest with readers. With that interest came many engaging comments and questions, inspiring us to write a bonus edition of the March Weed of the Month.

Background:

Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is one of the first plants to emerge and flower in the spring. It’s also a regulated species on the Noxious Weed List in Minnesota, and many individuals and volunteer groups gather in the spring for garlic mustard pulls to minimize its spread through our woodlands.

Garlic mustard is also edible and is a popular plant for many foragers. It tastes like a cross of bitter greens and garlic. Leaves and stems can be used to make a pesto or blanched in boiling salted water and added to other dishes.

Foraging:

Responsible garlic mustard foraging includes getting permission from landowners, whether they are public or private. Don’t risk trespassing to forage for this plant! Foraging also means knowing with certainty the identification of the plant you’re collecting. A helpful plant identification app is Seek by iNaturalist.

Make sure to research thoroughly and responsibly on a foraging adventure and consuming any plant found in nature. It is important to know any preparation requirements and quantity limitations there are to eating foraged plants, as there could be toxicity concerns with some plants. Be aware of any risks of contamination from herbicides or chemicals in the soil as well.

Controlling the spread:

As a regulated plant species, garlic mustard is in the Restricted category. This means that propagation and sale of this plant are prohibited in Minnesota. Managing this species can be challenging and includes:

• A sound management plan with a commitment of several years to decrease the population.
• Persistent hand pulling may be practical for small populations; hand pulling should include pulling the roots. A good practice when foraging is to pull the whole plant including the root.
• Weed trimmers to cut flower stalks before they go to seed and reduce the amount of seed the plants produce.
• Foliar herbicide applications to the rosettes in the spring and fall can reduce populations.
• Always clean equipment and tools after working in garlic mustard patches to prevent the spread of seed to new areas.

More information:

Many online resources are available on foraging and managing garlic mustard. The University of Minnesota Extension has additional information on garlic mustard management and links to foraging websites, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has resources on managing the species. You are a vital part of noxious weed management in Minnesota. Staying engaged by foraging edible noxious weeds, using best management practices for controlling weeds, and continuing to learn more about this important topic will be key to successful management.

For more information on noxious weeds and invasive insects, listen and subscribe to Smarty Plants, a Minnesota Department of Agriculture podcast. 

MEDIA: Contact Brittany Raveill, MDA Communications, at brittany.raveill@state.mn.us or 651-201-6131 for more information on Weed of the Month