EcoQuest June 2020
Find Garlic Mustard
Garlic mustard (Allaria petiolata) is an invasive plant from Europe and Asia that is spreading rapidly throughout the West, including here in Colorado. It is easily recognized by its white, cross-shaped flowers and leaves that, when crushed, smell like garlic. Garlic mustard is one of few herbs that can dominate forest understories, outcompeting other plants and thus reducing overall biodiversity.
Help the Gardens document the abundance and distribution of garlic mustard by photographing as many plants as possible in the month of June. For large populations, photograph plants every few feet to show the extent of coverage. Your findings will show up on the June EcoQuest iNaturalist project as well as the overall Denver EcoFlora Project.
