5/16/2011
PIPESTEM, W.Va. – Garlic mustard is one of the most invasive plant species in West Virginia and various groups have organized “pulls” to help discourage its spread on public land. For example, Pipestem State Park’s Garlic Mustard Pull was conducted April 22. The event, sponsored by the National Park Service, was led by NPS Ranger Richard Altare as part of the New River Gorge Wildflower Weekend.
Other Garlic Mustard Pulls have been held this spring at Summit Lake, Ice Mountain Preserve, Seneca Rocks Discovery Center, Greenbrier State Forest, Sugar Grove Naval Base, and Big Bend Campground.
The Monongahela National Forest, Appalachian Forest Heritage Area and the Potomac Highland Cooperative Weed and Pest Management Area have created a “2011 Garlic Mustard Challenge.” The schedule is May 20 — Fernow Experimental Forest ; May 21 — Greenbrier State Forest ; May 21-22 — Blue Bend Campground ; and May 28 — Pocahontas 4-H Camp More information is available about starting points at
www.phcwpma.org/GarlicMustard.cfm.
If you can’t join in a garlic mustard pull event, scout where you reside and participate individually. Report the number of bags of garlic mustard removed to Charissa Bujak with the U.S. Forest Service at 304-636-1800 ext.285 or email
cbujak02@fs.fed.us. For events and activities at West Virginia’s state parks, visit,
www.wvstateparks.com.
About Garlic Mustard
“Two great food accompaniments are garlic and mustard, but the weed ‘garlic mustard’ is totally different,” said Jim Phillips, naturalist at Pipestem Resort State Park. Garlic mustard out-competes native plants by monopolizing the light, moisture, nutrients, soil and space. “Native wildflowers such as spring beauty, wild ginger, bloodroot, Dutchman’s breeches, trilliums and ramps all decline and, in some cases, disappear once this non-native invasive species invades.”
Garlic mustard (
Alliaria petiolata) was introduced by European settlers for medicinal purposes and was used in cooking. As many non-native plants do, it spread throughout river floodplains, forests, roadsides, forest edges and along trails. “Within a decade of garlic mustard advance, you’ll begin to see many other flowers all but disappear if it is left unchecked,” noted Emily Grafton, a biologist/naturalist/author from West Virginia. Grafton says garlic mustard is terribly destructive, particularly along the low-lying rich soils of creeks and rivers.
Garlic mustard produces small rosettes of leaves in summer which over-winter and begin growing in March or April just before native woodland wildflowers fully emerge.
“It out-competes native ground cover by essentially absorbing a greater share of soil nutrients and moisture before the native plants gets geared up. Scientists have also detected toxic chemicals in all parts of the garlic mustard plant which inhibit the growth of other plants such as native spring wildflowers that serve as larval hosts for butterflies, i.e., violets for fritillaries and Toothwort’s for the rare West Virginia White butterfly. Also, the invasive exotic garlic mustard plant inhibits the growth of tree seedlings as well.”
Grafton serves as guest biologist for West Virginia’s state parks interpretative training programs. She and Chris Gatens are authors of “Wildflowers and Trees of West Virginia: Identifying the State’s Flora, Including Shrubs and Vines.”
Contact Information
Sissie Summers, Parks and Recreation Section
304-558-2764
Sissie.A.Summers@wv.gov