Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Garlic Mustard

Alliaria petiolata

Typically in season from March to June in the northern hemisphere. Found in Woodland edges, Disturbed ground. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)

Photo: (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · iNaturalist

When Garlic Mustard is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak March to June. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in September

Where it grows

Garlic Mustard is usually found in Woodland edges, Disturbed ground.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Similar species: Ground ivy, Hairy bittercress, Sweet violet. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Garlic Mustard into the field

Open Garlic Mustard in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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Garlic Mustard: common questions

When is Garlic Mustard in season?

Garlic Mustard is generally in season from March to June in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Garlic Mustard grow?

Garlic Mustard is usually found in Woodland edges, Disturbed ground.

Is Garlic Mustard safe to forage?

Similar species: Ground ivy, Hairy bittercress, Sweet violet. Only forage with a confident ID. Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits