Garlic Mustard Invasive Wild Edible Plant

Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is an aggressively invasive species of plant originally from parts of Europe and Asia. Garlic Mustard is now common throughout much of North America. It is absent from the southern border states as well as Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota and three central provinces of Canada.

Where to look: Look in moist, shaded soil of forest.

What to look for: Look for a biennial herb. During the plant's first year of growth a rosette of green leaves close to the ground are produced. During the second the plant will produce small cross shaped white flowers each with four petals, and grow as tall as two or three feet. The leaves are dark green, very coarsely toothed and when crushed will smell like garlic, hence garlic is part of the common name.

Despite its edible nature, deer seem to avoid it. This has aided its spread greatly. It is as if the deer have teamed up to not only avoid the plant but also to kill (eat) the competition.

To harvest you can simply pick the leaves, but only do so if you are ready to cook it up right then. If you want to wait before eating it, then pull up the roots as well. Leaving the roots intact will buy you some time before the plant withers away.

Young leave can be added to Salads. The flavor of mustard is quite strong so I don't advise you to eat a salad of just Garlic Mustard. Cooking the leaves reduces the strength of the flavor. Older leaves while still edible are stronger in taste and usually more bitter.

In short, this plant is an excellent survival food. It is often found in large quantities and adds great flavor to other foods that may be lacking. Not only that, but you might be shocked to discover that Garlic Mustard is one of the best sources of vitamin C on the planet! Much more vitamin C than even an orange!

So eat up! Great taste and super healthy to boot!