Garlic Mustard - Tree Canada

brought to North America in the 1800’s by European settlers to use as a potherb and medicinal plant
most abundant in southern Ontario and southern Quebec with limited populations in British Columbia and New Brunswick
first recorded in Toronto in 1879
by 1900 had been found in Ottawa, Kingston, and Quebec City
not reported in British Columbia until 1948 and New Brunswick until 1968

flowering plant that produces a low rosette of coarsely-toothed leaves in its first year
rosette leaves remain green over winter
early the next spring the plant develops a tall stem (up to one metre or 3 ft) with terminal clusters of white flowers that mature into many long thin seed pods
plant dies after seeds mature
vigorous plants produce thousands of seeds
seeds remain viable in the soil for six years or more but most germinate in the second year
seeds are spread by people and animals
no known natural predators in North America
not eaten by deer which puts extra pressure on native plants

grows mainly in deciduous forests
dense stands suppress native tree seedlings, such as Sugar Maple, Red Maple, and White Ash
harms mycorrhizal fungi that trees rely on for nutrients

Tree Killers: Garlic Mustard