Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is in the mustard family family (Brassicaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 9,316 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Garlic Mustard: observations by month (U.S.)
About Garlic Mustard
Alliaria petiolata is a biennial flowering plant in the Mustard family, Brassicaceae. It is native to Europe, western and central Asia, and northwestern Africa, from Morocco, Iberia and the British Isles, north to northern Scandinavia, and east to northern Pakistan and western China (Xinjiang).From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Garlic Mustard by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 1,315 | April | Apr–May |
| Illinois | 887 | May | Apr–May |
| Pennsylvania | 885 | April | Apr–May |
| Maryland | 718 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Massachusetts | 665 | May | Apr–May |
| Virginia | 635 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Ohio | 561 | April | Apr–May |
| North Carolina | 389 | April | Apr–May |
| Kentucky | 382 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Vermont | 369 | May | May–May |
| New Jersey | 299 | April | Apr–May |
| Wisconsin | 278 | May | May–May |
| Minnesota | 273 | May | May–May |
| Connecticut | 234 | May | Apr–May |
| Indiana | 228 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Michigan | 200 | May | May–May |
| West Virginia | 151 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Missouri | 117 | April | Apr–Apr |
| District of Columbia | 104 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Delaware | 99 | April | Apr–Apr |
| New Hampshire | 82 | May | May–May |
| Iowa | 76 | May | Apr–May |
| Washington | 69 | April | Apr–May |
| Tennessee | 62 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Kansas | 57 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Maine | 43 | May | May–May |
| Oregon | 25 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Rhode Island | 23 | May | Apr–May |
| Colorado | 22 | May | May–May |
| Nebraska | 22 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Utah | 15 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Arkansas | 13 | April | Apr–Apr |
| South Dakota | 7 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (mustard family)
Dame's Rocket
Annual Honesty
Cut-Leaved Toothwort
Milkmaids
Hairy Bittercress
Shepherd's-Purse
Western Wallflower
Wild radish
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Garlic Mustard?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Garlic Mustard most often seen?
The most observations come from New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania.