Plant Details

Alliaria petiolata

Garlic mustard

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Common names

52 names · 37 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Garlic mustard[1][2]
  • Hedge mustard[2]
  • Jack-by-the-hedge[2]
Other languages (36)
Dutch
  • Look-zonder-look[2]
French
  • Alliaire[2]
  • Alliaire officinale[2]
  • Herbe à ail[2]
Armenian
  • Սխտորաբույս դեղատու[2]
Belarusian
  • Часночнік лекавы[2]
Bulgarian
  • Лъжичина[2]
  • Чеснова трева[2]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Croatian
  • Ljekovita češnjača[2]
  • Češnjevka[2]
Czech
  • česnáček lékařský[2]
Danish
Estonian
  • salukõdrik[2]
Finnish
  • litulaukka[2]
  • rohtolitulaukka[2]
German
  • Knoblauchsrauke[2]
  • Lauchhederich[1]
Greek
  • Αλλιάρια η φαρμακευτική[2]
Hebrew
  • אליאריה שומית[2]
Hungarian
  • hagymaszagú kányazsombor[2]
  • kányazsombor[2]
Irish
  • Bóchoinneal[2]
Italian
Japanese
  • ガーリックマスタード[2]
Korean
  • 마늘냉이[2]
Lithuanian
  • Vaistinė česnakūnė[2]
Norwegian
Polish
  • Czosnaczek pospolity[2]
Portuguese
Romanian
  • Usturoiţă[2]
Russian
  • Чесночница аптечная[2]
  • Чесночница черешчатая[2]
Serbian
  • Чешњача срцолисна[2]
Slovak
  • cesnačka lekárska[2]
Slovenian
Spanish
  • aliaria[2]
  • Hierba del Ajo[2]
Swedish
Turkish
  • Sarımsak Hardalı[2]
  • Sarımsakhardalı[2]
Ukrainian
  • Кінський часник черешковий[2]
Welsh
  • Garlleg y berth[2]
Language not specified
  • Knoblauchrauke[1]
  • Lauchkraut[1]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Alliaria petiolata (M.Bieb.) Cavara & Grande ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Garlic Mustard (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 146987; taxon BTPF.
  • Knoblauchrauke — VernacularName.tsv, line 146988; taxon BTPF.
  • Lauchhederich (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 146989; taxon BTPF.
  • Lauchkraut — VernacularName.tsv, line 146990; taxon BTPF.
[2] Alliaria petiolata — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Look-zonder-look — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • garlic mustard — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Jack-by-the-hedge — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Knoblauchsrauke — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • litulaukka — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Чесночница черешчатая — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • alliaire officinale — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • אליאריה שומית — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Löktrav — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Erva-alheira — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • česnáček lékařský — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Løgkarse — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Hierba del Ajo — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Чесночница аптечная — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • løkurt — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Alliaria — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Лъжичина — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Чеснова трева — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Vaistinė česnakūnė — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • rohtolitulaukka — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Czosnaczek pospolity — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • aliaria — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • aliária — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • cesnačka lekárska — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Česnovka — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Ljekovita češnjača — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Սխտորաբույս դեղատու — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • ガーリックマスタード — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • salukõdrik — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • 蔥芥 — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • 葱芥 — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Αλλιάρια η φαρμακευτική — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • 마늘냉이 — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • al·liària — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • allenc — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Usturoiţă — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Кінський часник черешковий — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Часночнік лекавы — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Alliaire — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • hagymaszagú kányazsombor — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Herbe à ail — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • kányazsombor — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Bóchoinneal — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Češnjevka — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Hedge mustard — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Garlleg y berth — results[0].names[47]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Чешњача срцолисна — results[0].names[48]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Sarımsakhardalı — results[0].names[49]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.
  • Sarımsak Hardalı — results[0].names[50]; taxon id 56061; Alliaria petiolata.

General information

Scientific name: Alliaria petiolata
Accepted name (Kew): Alliaria petiolata (M.Bieb.) Cavara & Grande View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Brassicaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Alliaria (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Garlic mustard
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Ground cover
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 1.00 m
Spread: 0.40 m
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [3]
Foliage: None
Growth habit: Clumping

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Biennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Moist, Occasionally Wet

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Deep shade, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Flowers, Leaves, Seed pod
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Dye, Bee forage, Fragrant

Description

Young leaves of this plant can be eaten both raw and cooked, for example as a vegetable or as a seasoning in prepared dishes. They have a subtle garlic and mustard flavor and are believed to promote digestion. The leaves can be finely chopped and added to salads. They are available early in the year and can be a delightful addition to winter salads. The flowers and young seed pods of this plant can also be eaten raw and have a subtle garlic-like taste.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/05
Harvest ends: 30/06

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1301497; name ID 2628611; Alliaria Heist. ex Fabr.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1301502; name ID 2628680; Alliaria petiolata (M.Bieb.) Cavara & Grande.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Alliaria petiolata

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 4393681, ID BTPF: Alliaria petiolata (M.Bieb.) Cavara & Grande (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Alliaria petiolata — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: Growth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .