Invasive plant
Garlic mustard
Alliaria petiolata
Garlic mustard identification: a first-year rosette, a second-year flower stem and a garlic smell when a leaf is crushed.
State hub · WI
Wisconsin
Garlic mustard in Wisconsin is Restricted under the state invasive species rule NR 40, which controls transport, transfer and introduction.
Last reviewed
Regulatory status
Garlic mustard is classified as Restricted under Wisconsin's invasive species rule, Wis. Admin. Code NR 40. Restricted species cannot be transported, transferred or introduced without a permit; possession is allowed except for fish and crayfish, and control is encouraged but not required. The DNR says everyone is responsible for complying with the rule.
Wisconsin’s Restricted classification is a legal category, not a statement that the plant is harmless. Restricted species may not be transported, transferred or introduced without a permit, and the DNR encourages control. The DNR factsheet notes that garlic mustard seed can remain viable in the soil for at least seven years, so a single spring pull is unlikely to clear a woodland site.
Reporting and official sources
Reporting routes and classifications change. Confirm the current process with the state agency before submitting a report.
Priority species in Wisconsin
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against the sources below. Each link shows the date the source was accessed.
- Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) — Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Accessed November 3, 2026
- Invasive species rule – NR 40 — Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Accessed November 3, 2026
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