Alliaria: What Every Gardener Should Know About This Widespread Plant
If you’ve spent any time exploring North American woodlands or even your own backyard, chances are you’ve encountered alliaria. This herbaceous plant has made quite a journey from its original home across the ocean and has established itself throughout much of the continent. Whether you’re curious about that leafy plant sprouting in your garden or wondering if you should intentionally cultivate it, here’s everything you need to know about alliaria.
What Exactly Is Alliaria?
Alliaria is a forb – which is just a fancy way of saying it’s a non-woody plant that dies back to the ground each year. As an annual or biennial, this plant completes its life cycle in one to two years, spending its energy on producing leaves, flowers, and seeds rather than building up woody stems like shrubs or trees.
Where Did It Come From and Where Is It Now?
Here’s where things get interesting: alliaria isn’t originally from North America. This plant is a non-native species that was introduced from elsewhere and has since made itself quite at home across the continent. It now reproduces on its own in the wild without any human assistance and has proven remarkably good at persisting once established.
Today, you can find alliaria growing across an impressive range that includes Alaska, numerous Canadian provinces like British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec, and a whopping 41 states in the lower 48. From the Northeast down to Georgia, and from the Pacific Northwest clear across to the Great Plains, this adaptable plant has claimed territory in places like Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, and Virginia – just to name a few.
Should You Plant Alliaria in Your Garden?
This is where gardeners need to think carefully. While alliaria certainly proves it can grow just about anywhere, its success story comes with some important considerations for responsible gardening.
The Case for Caution
Since alliaria is a non-native plant that spreads readily on its own, many gardeners and land managers have concerns about its impact on native plant communities. Its ability to establish and persist so widely suggests it’s quite competitive with native plants that wildlife and pollinators have evolved to depend on.
Better Alternatives for Your Garden
Instead of planting alliaria, consider these native alternatives that provide similar benefits without the ecological concerns:
- Native woodland herbs that thrive in similar conditions
- Indigenous forbs that support local pollinators
- Regional wildflowers that complement your area’s natural ecosystem
If You Encounter Alliaria
Whether alliaria appeared in your garden on its own or you’re managing an area where it’s established, here’s what you should know about its growing preferences:
As a forb, alliaria lacks the woody tissue that would help it compete with trees and shrubs, but it makes up for this by being incredibly adaptable. It can establish in various conditions and doesn’t require much fussing to survive once it takes hold.
Recognition and Management
Learning to identify alliaria is useful for any gardener. As an annual or biennial, individual plants won’t live for many years, but they often produce seeds that ensure new plants keep appearing. If you’re trying to manage its presence in your landscape, the key is understanding its life cycle and preventing seed production.
The Bottom Line for Gardeners
While alliaria has certainly proven it can thrive across North America, responsible gardening means thinking about the bigger picture. Rather than adding more non-native plants to our landscapes, we have an opportunity to support native plant communities that provide irreplaceable benefits to local wildlife, pollinators, and ecosystems.
If you’re looking to add herbaceous plants to your garden, consider exploring the wonderful world of native forbs that are naturally suited to your region. Your local native plant society, extension office, or native plant nursery can help you discover beautiful alternatives that will make both your garden and your local ecosystem thrive.
