Alliaria petiolata Seeds, Garlic Mustard, Hedge Garlic, Jack-by-the-hedge

Alliaria petiolata Seeds, Sauce-alone, Jack-in-the-bush, Penny Hedge

Key Features & Details Garlic Mustard

• Seed Shape: Tiny, irregular
• Seed Color: Black
• Seed Texture: Smooth
• Seed Size: Tiny
• Seed Pod: Long, slender
• Sowing: Sow outdoors in autumn or very early spring, approximately 1 cm deep and 15 cm apart. Seeds require a period of cold stratification to break dormancy.
• Notes: This plant provides nectar and pollen for pollinators, serving as a vital larval food source for butterflies like the orange-tip and green-veined white. Ensure the chosen site offers moderate shade and occasional disturbance.

Botanical Information Hedge Garlic

• Botanical Name: Alliaria petiolata
• Common Names: Garlic Mustard, Hedge Garlic, Jack-by-the-hedge, Garlic Root, Sauce-alone, Jack-in-the-bush, Penny Hedge, Poor Man’s Mustard
• Family: Brassicaceae
• Life Cycle: Biennial
• Flower Color: White
• Flower Time: April to June
• Height: 0.5 to 1.5 meters

Characteristics and Usage Jack-by-the-hedge

• Good for wildlife gardens
• Provides nectar and pollen for pollinators
• Serves as larval food plant for butterflies
• Historically used for erosion control

Growing Conditions Garlic Root

• Sunlight: Shade to partial shade
• Soil: Rich, alluvial, well-drained, humus, and nutrient-rich soils.
• Habitat: Woodland edges, hedgerows, and other damp, shaded areas.
• Soil pH: Mildly acidic to mildly alkaline
• Moisture: Moist to wet
• Germination: Seeds require a period of cold stratification to break dormancy. Sow outdoors in autumn or very early spring.
• Propagation: From seed
• Additional Notes: Hardy and frost-tolerant, this plant can withstand temperatures down to -10 to -15°C. For growers in certain regions, it is recommended to manage its spread by cutting flower stems before seeds form to prevent escape from cultivation.

Uses and Garden Appeal

• Attracts Wildlife: Bees, flies, lepidoptera, orange-tip butterfly, green-veined white butterfly