Alliaria petiolata

Common Names: English: garlic-root;garlicwort;hedge-garlic;Jack-by-the-hedge;Jack-in-the-bush;mustard-root;poor-man's-mustard;sauce-alone. Spanish: Ajo mostaza;Hierba del ajo. French: Alliaire officinale. Portuguese: erva-alheira. Germany: Gemeine Knoblauchsrauke. Italy: Alliaria;Erba alliaria. Netherlands: Look-zonder-look. Sweden: Loektrav.

Alliaria petiolata is a BIENNIAL growing to 1 m by 0.4 m .
It is hardy to zone 7 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from April to June, and the seeds ripen from June to August. The species is hermaphrodite and is pollinated by Bees, flies, Lepidoptera . The plant is self-fertile.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light , medium and heavy soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic soils. It can grow in full shade or semi-shade . It prefers moist or wet soil.

Prefers a damp rich alluvial soil. Succeeds in damp shady places where few other herbs will grow. A good woodland edge plant, it also grows well in the bottom of hedgerows and will self-sow freely in suitable conditions. On a calm day the plant emits a strong smell of garlic. This is especially pronounced if the leaves are bruised. This species is an important food source for the orange-tip butterfly.