Practical
Plants

Alliaria petiolata

Garlic Mustard

a biennial member of the Alliaria genus in the family Brassicaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
biennial
Height
1 m
Spread
0.4 m
Fertility
self fertile
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Flies, Lepidoptera, Self

Uses

Edible uses

Young leaves - raw or cooked as a potherb or as a flavouring in cooked foods[12][13][17][2][15][1][9]. A mild garlic and mustard flavour, the leaves are also believed to strengthen the digestive system[9]. They can be finely chopped and added to salads[16][5]. The leaves are available very early in the year and provide a very acceptable flavouring for salads in the winter[K]. Flowers and young seed pods - raw[15]. A mild, garlic-like flavour[K].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Seed
Product or use
Seasoning

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

Garlic mustard has been little used in herbal medicine[11]. The leaves and stems are antiasthmatic, antiscorbutic, antiseptic, deobstruent, diaphoretic, vermifuge and vulnerary[12][16]. The leaves have been taken internally to promote sweating and to treat bronchitis, asthma and eczema[12]. Externally, they have been used as an antiseptic poultice on ulcers etc[12], and are effective in relieving the itching caused by bites and stings[9]. The leaves and stems are harvested before the plant comes into flower and they can be dried for later use[6]. The roots are chopped up small and then heated in oil to make an ointment to rub on the chest in order to bring relief from bronchitis[10]. The juice of the plant has an inhibitory effect on Bacillus pyocyaneum and on gram-negative bacteria of the typhoid-paratyphoid-enteritis group[8]. The seeds have been used as a snuff to excite sneezing[12].

Product or use
Antiasthmatic
Product or use
Antiscorbutic
Product or use
Antiseptic
Product or use
Deobstruent
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Sternutatory
Product or use
Vermifuge
Product or use
Vulnerary

Material uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the whole plant[16].

Product or use
Dye

Environment

Range
Most of Europe, including Britain, south to N. Africa and east to W. Asia and the Himalayas.
Habitat
Damp hedgerows, edges of woods and other shady places, preferring basic soils[16][3][4][9].
Light
partial sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
high
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - sow outdoors in situ either in spring or autumn.

Cultivation

Prefers a damp rich alluvial soil[16][14]. Succeeds in damp shady places where few other herbs will grow[6]. A good woodland edge plant, it also grows well in the bottom of hedgerows[7] and will self-sow freely in suitable conditions[6]. On a calm day the plant emits a strong smell of garlic. This is especially pronounced if the leaves are bruised[10]. This species is an important food source for the orange-tip butterfly[6].

References

  1. Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.

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  2. Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles ISBN 0-7153-7971-2

    ↩

  3. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩

  4. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  5. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  6. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  7. Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden.

    ↩

  8. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩

  9. Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  10. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩1↩2

  11. Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-85613-067-2

    ↩

  12. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  13. Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5

    ↩

  14. De. Bray. L. The Wild Garden.

    ↩

  15. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩1↩2

  16. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  17. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩

  18. Unknown The Real Transition Handbook:The Wild Food of Kentdale CA (2012/03/01)

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