Garlic Mustard Garlic Mustard is one of the most well-known invasive species. The plant can be found in the lower portion of forests; mainly because it requires low light levels. According to Michigan State University, it has very few predators in the United States and is therefore an extremely threatening species.
The most prevalent reason that Garlic Mustard is such a threatening species is because of its rapid growth rate. Garlic Mustard is known to spread on average about 20 ft. per year! The mustard plant literally takes over the ground level of forests nearly wiping out the native species. In an article, published by Michigan State University by the Department of Entomology, the authors refer to an example of just how threatening the species can be. “Researchers in Ohio experimentally removed garlic mustard from a forest understory and documented subsequent increases in the richness and abundance of annuals and woody perennials including tree seedlings.” The plant is ultimately harmful to the environment and has devastating effects on native species.
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