Garlic Mustard (Invs)
Garlic mustard at a CILTI property
Garlic Mustard: A Study in Unintended Consequences
Written By: Ed Pope
Date Published: February 18, 2021
Ed Pope
Part of a series on invasive species by guest blogger Ed Pope
Garlic mustard is an herb that is native to Europe and portions of Asia. It has a garlic smell and has been used by humans as a spice since somewhere around 4000 B.C. It was most likely brought to this continent by Europeans for this purpose. The first documented record of it in the United States was on Long Island in 1868. Since then it has spread into the northeastern and Midwestern portions of the United States, as well as the southeastern part of Canada.
Garlic mustard is a biennial. In its first year of life, it sprouts from seed and establishes itself, but does not grow very tall. In the following year it typically grows one to three feet tall. It flowers in the spring, with an average plant producing around 600 seeds. These seeds are able to sprout much later, even after five years. This makes its eradication challenging, since one can remove all the plants from an area, but there may be seeds that sprout in years to come.
This plant causes problems when it invades native forests, as it can quickly take over the understory. It releases chemicals into the soil that inhibit the growth of other plants. Many native grazers avoid eating it. Two rare native butterfly species, the mustard white and the West Virginia white, lay their eggs on wild mustard, a very similar plant. With the spread of garlic mustard, they now sometimes lay their eggs on garlic mustard. Unfortunately, garlic mustard is toxic to their caterpillars.
Eradication of small areas of garlic mustard can be done by pulling it out by hand. At least half of the taproot should be removed. This is best done when the soil is moist, and ideally in the spring before it develops seeds. When it is pulled, it is best to remove it from the area, or to place it such that the roots will dry out, killing the plant. Large areas of garlic mustard may need to be treated with herbicide.
Garlic mustard is not a problem in Europe because it has numerous natural enemies. Some of these have been studied for possible importation into the United States. There are two weevils which show great potential for controlling garlic mustard. The Department of Agriculture technical Advisory Group has blocked their importation out of fear of unintended consequences.
Garlic mustard is found at most CILTI preserves at some level. Meltzer Woods is where the stewardship team spends the most time pulling it. Luckily, the team has had the help of generous volunteers over the years, trying to knock it back. The team will be exploring the use of weed whackers in areas where it is especially dense. This method will have to be dialed in to make sure the plant is cut back far enough so it does not resprout. It is also important to avoid surrounding plants when cutting it back, so hand pulling, while the more labor intensive, is also the safest.
Want to help CILTI restore natural areas? Check out volunteer opportunities here. You can help us improve the health of forests and other natural habitats.
Ben Valentine
Guest Blogger
Ben Valentine is a founding member of the Friends of Marott Woods Nature Preserve and is active in several other conservation organizations. He leads a series of NUVO interviews with Indiana's environmental leaders, and he cherishes showing his son all the wonders of nature he grew up loving.
DJ Connors
Guest Blogger
DJ Connors, a Central Indiana native and late-to-life hunter, combines a lifelong appreciation for wildlife and the outdoors with a deep passion for exploring the natural beauty of the area he has called home for most of his life. As a husband and father of three, he is committed to ensuring his children have the same opportunities to connect with nature and appreciate the outdoors in their community. DJ’s unique journey into hunting emphasizes sustainability, responsible stewardship, and the importance of preserving these experiences for future generations.
Bridget Walls
Guest Blogger
Bridget is our first ever Communications and Outreach Intern. She is a graduate of Marian University, where she combined English, studio art, and environmental sciences in her degree studies. As treasurer for Just Earth, the university's environmental club, she helped plan events encouraging a responsible relationship between people, nature, and animals.
Jordan England
Guest Blogger
Jordan England is a lifelong Shelby County resident who graduated from Waldron Jr. Sr. High School (just a few miles from Meltzer Woods!). After earning her B.S. degree in Retail Management from Purdue University, she returned to Waldron to start a family with her husband, Brian. Together they have 3 young children and enjoy sharing with them their love of the community. Jordan is the Grants and Nonprofit Relations Director at Blue River Community Foundation, managing BRCF’s grant program, providing support to local nonprofits, and promoting catalytic philanthropy in Shelby County.
Cliff Chapman
President and CEO
As CILTI’s President and CEO, Cliff keeps CILTI’s focus on good science and stewardship. He’s mindful that the natural places you love took thousands of years to evolve and could be destroyed in a single day, and that knowledge drives his dedication to their protection.
Stacy Cachules
Chief Operating Officer
Among her many key duties as Assistant Director, Stacy has the critical task of tracking our budget, making sure we channel donations for maximum efficiency. When her workday’s done, Stacy loves to spend time with her two young boys—and when not traveling, she’s likely planning the next travel adventure.
Ryan Fuhrmann
Vice Chair
Ryan C. Fuhrmann, CFA, is President and founder of Fuhrmann Capital LLC, an Indiana-based investment management firm focused on portfolio management. Ryan’s interest in land conservation centers around a desire to help preserve natural habitats for wildlife and the subsequent benefits it brings to people and the environment.
Joanna Nixon
Board Member
Joanna Nixon is the owner of Nixon Consulting, an Indianapolis-based strategy and project management firm focused on the nonprofit sector. She currently serves as the Philanthropic Advisor for the Efroymson Family Fund. Prior to opening her consulting practice in 2000, Joanna was vice-president for grantmaking at Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF). Joanna has more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit and arts and culture sector. She is passionate about the environment and loves bringing big ideas to life and creating high-quality arts and culture programs and experiences. Joanna enjoys outdoor adventures, including competing in fitness obstacle course races and hiking with her high energy Australian Cattle Dog, Jackson.
Karen Wade
Board Member
Before retiring, CILTI board member Karen Wade worked for Eli Lilly & Co. In retirement she volunteers for a number of organizations, including the Indiana Master Naturalist program, Johnson County Native Plant Partnership CISMA, Meadowstone Therapeutic Riding Center, and Leadership Johnson County.
David Barickman
Development Systems Manager
Born and raised in Central Illinois, David spent many days as a child wandering around the river, forest and lakes there. He works behind the scenes as a key member of our fundraising team. When not working, David loves to be outdoors hiking, fly fishing, kayaking or woodworking.
Jamison Hutchins
Stewardship Director
Jamison leads our stewardship team in caring for the land that is so important to you. He comes to our team after eight years as Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator for the city of Indianapolis, where his work had a positive impact from both health and environmental perspectives.
Jen Schmits Thomas
Media Relations
An award-winning communicator and recognized leader in Central Indiana’s public relations community, Jen helps us tell our story in the media. She is the founder of JTPR, which she and her husband John Thomas own together. She is accredited in public relations (APR) from the Public Relations Society of America, and loves to camp and hike in perfect weather conditions.
Shawndra Miller
Communications Director
Shawndra’s earliest writing projects centered around the natural world, starting when a bird inspired her to write her first “book” in elementary school. Now she is in charge of sharing our story and connecting you to our work. Through our print and online materials, she hopes to inspire your participation in protecting special places for future generations.
Phillip Weldy
Stewardship Specialist
Phillip enjoys nature’s wonders from an up-close-and-personal perspective as he works to restore the natural places you love. As an AmeriCorps member in Asheville, NC, he had his first full immersion in relatively undisturbed land while reconstructing wilderness trails in National Parks and National Forests.
December 11, 2025
Brown County is beloved for its vistas of iconic Southern Indiana hills. Now the forests under protection in the county include another 89 acres. That’s all thanks to our members’ generosity!
Betley Woods,Blossom Hollow,Callon Hollow,Newsroom,Properties
December 9, 2025
Board member Ryan C. Fuhrmann, CFA, is President and founder of Fuhrmann Capital LLC, an Indiana-based investment management firm. As our incoming board chair, Ryan brings a strong desire to preserve natural habitats for wildlife. We asked him to share his perspective on making gifts of stock to the [...]
Newsroom
December 2, 2025
Our board member, John Bacone, reflects on conserving key natural areas. He led the Department of Natural Resources Division of Nature Preserves for over four decades. Years ago, when I was working in the Indiana DNR Division of Nature Preserves (DNP), I asked Bob Waltz, the State Entomologist, how [...]
Betley Woods,Blossom Hollow,Homepage,Meltzer Woods,Newsroom,Properties,Stewardship
