United States Department ofAgriculture

Field Guide for Managing

Sahara Mustard in the Southwest

Forest 

Service

Southwestern

Region TP-R3-16-32 Revised June 2017
Cover Photos

Upper left and right: Max Licher, ASU Vascular Plant Herbarium, swbiodiversity.org 

Bottom: Patti Fenner, US Forest Service

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1 

Sahara mustard (Brassica tournefortii) 

Mustard family (Brassicaceae)

Sahara mustard is an invasive plant in Arizona and New 

Mexico. It is on the watch list inNew Mexico’s noxious 

weed list. This field guide serves as the U.S. Forest

Service’s recommendations for management of Sahara 

mustard in woodlands, rangelands, and deserts associated 

with the Service’s Southwestern Region. The 

SouthwesternRegion covers Arizona and New Mexico, 

which together have 11 national forests. The Region also 

administers 4 national grasslands located in northeastern 

New Mexico, western Oklahoma, and the Texas

panhandle.

Description 

Sahara mustard (synonyms: wild turnip, African orAsian

mustard) is an introduced, short-lived annual that is native

to North Africa, the Middle East, and Mediterranean lands 

of southern Europe. Sahara mustard is quick growing and 

can complete its life cycle within a few months. New

plants are commonly seen following fall and winter

precipitation and are difficult to differentiate from native 

mustards as they are similar in shape and form. 

Growth Characteristics

• Annual broadleaf plant; average height is 3 inches to 

3 ft. tall flower stalks.

• In early growth, plants form a large basal rosette with 

leaves 3-12 inches long that are deeply lobed and 

toothed; leaves are present on inflorescences but they 

later rapidly decrease in size and appear as small

bracts; stems and leaf surfaces may be covered with

simple hairs.

• Inflorescences can vary widely in size depending 

upon the health of plants; ranging from 4-40 inches 

in height. Inflorescences consist of racemes that 

include anywhere from 6 to 20 flowers. 

• Flowers are small and dull yellow, often 

inconspicuous. Petals consist of two pairs that form a 

cross and are only slightly longer than the length of

sepals. In the Southwest, adult plants typically flower 

from February–April and then senesce by May.

• Fruits is a specialized structure called a silique that 

can actively dehisce when mature. Siliques are 1.4-

2.6 inches long with an obvious beak at the tip of the

fruit. Siliques contain 14-30 seeds (0.04 inches in 

diameter) that are red with a mucilaginous coating.

Ecology

Impacts/Threats

Sahara mustard takes early advantage of fall and winter

soil moisture and can develop dense, monotypic stands

resulting in lower diversity of flora and fauna species. As 

the foliage and flower stalks dry up, the litter material can 

become a fire hazard capable of spreading fire into areas 

where native plants are typically fire intolerant.

Site/Distribution

Although it favors sandy soils, Sahara mustard occupies a 

wide variety of disturbed, arid habitats. It is commonly 

found along bladed and mowed roadsides and other areas 

disturbed by machinery. However, Sahara mustard does 

not require soil disturbance to be invasive. 

Sahara mustard has been observed across a number of 

areas in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts including 

residential and industrial areas, ephemeral riparian 

corridors, rangeland and pastures, and cultivated fields. 

While this plant is not yet common in New Mexico, it has 

expanded rapidly in Arizona, Nevada, and California.

Spread

Sahara mustard spreads exclusively by seed; however, 

more knowledge is needed to learn about the biology, 

reproduction, and spread of this species. Well-developed 

plants produce 750-9,000 seeds that reportedly remain

viable for more than 3 years. Seeds may germinate with as 

little as 1.5 inches of rainfall. Rodents cache seeds and 

may be capable of moving flower heads and seed far from

their source thereby enhancing spread. Seed spread occurs 

with wind as dry plants easily break off at ground level

and tumble across the landscape,spreading seed into new

locations. Dried seed and plant fragments also adhere to 

surfaces and undercarriages of vehicles and road 

maintenance equipment.
2 

Invasive Features

Sahara mustard is well-adapted to desert landscapes and is 

likely to continue its spread into unfilled niches.With its 

high capacity for seed production and ability to propagate 

rapidly under low soil moisture conditions, this weed 

should be expected to thrive across a wide range of

habitats. Successful management prevents production and 

spread of seed. 

Management

The best approach for Sahara mustard control is early 

detection and proactive management, as well-established 

stands are difficult to a control. Management of Sahara 

mustard should involve (1) careful planning, (2) a rapid 

response to control treated plants and new infestations, and 

(3) a long-term commitment to management actions. The

following actions should be considered when planning an

overall management approach:

• Healthy plant communities should be maintained to 

limit Sahara mustard infestations. If necessary, 

include revegetation methods to reduce the

possibility of further invasion.

• Eradicate new populations of Sahara mustard as early

as possible.

• Combine mechanical, cultural, biological, and

chemical methods for most effective Sahara mustard 

control.

• Detect, report, and map large infestations. Keep

annual records of reported infestations.

Table 1 summarizes some management options for 

controlling Sahara mustard under various situations. 

Further details on these management options are explained 

below. Choice of individual control method(s) for Sahara 

mustard depends on the extent and density of infestation, 

current land use, and site conditions (accessibility, terrain, 

microclimate, other flora and fauna present, etc.). Other

important considerations include treatment effectiveness,

overall cost, and the number of years needed to achieve 

control. More than one control method may be needed for 

a particular site.

Physical Control

Although labor intensive, physical methods used 

consistently and repeatedly are effective for controlling 

Sahara mustard. Effectiveness of physical methods is 

generally improved when combined with herbicide control.

Manual Methods

Hand-pulling or hoeing – Plants of all ages are easily 

controlled by hand-pulling, hoeing, or grubbing; but

removal is best before flowering and seed set. Always 

remove as much of the above and below-ground plant 

parts as possible, and dispose of debris by bagging and

depositing bags in a landfill, or by burning.

Mechanical Methods

If using machinery to manage Sahara mustard, the

equipment should be cleaned after use to prevent movement

of seeds or root fragments into un-infested areas.

Mowing – Without serious attention to timing, mowing 

can contribute to further spread and increased densities of 

Sahara mustard. However, mowing is a helpful tool for 

removing accumulated leaf and early flower material. For 

best results, mow Sahara mustard at the early bolting or 

flower bud stage to prevent seed production. Monitor 

plants carefully and repeat mowing if the weed produces 

new flower shoots.

Tillage – By itself, cultivation is often not a viable 

alternative for Sahara mustard control. Shallow disking

will effectively eliminate new plants, but disturbing the 

soil surface may enhance later seed germination. 

Cultivation combined with later well-timed herbicide use 

can reduce population size in areas suitable for these 

practices. Research using this integrated approach is 

limited, however.

Prescribed Fire

Burning actively growing Sahara mustard with prescribed

fire is usually impractical and is not recommended.

Flaming or spot burning individual plants in areas with 

low wildfire severity conditions may be a suitable 

alternative to physical control to prevent soil disturbance. 

Piling pulled or hoed growth material and burning is an 

acceptable way to dispose of plant debris.
3 

Table 1. Management options*

Site Physical Control Cultural Control Biological Control Chemical Control

Roadsides, trails,

or non-crop

areas

Mow at early flower

stage; apply herbicide

to re-growth.

Hand-pull or hoe

small patches.

Use seed, mulch, and fill 

materials certified to be weedfree.

Clean machinery following

activity in infested areas.

Train road crews and the public 

to identify and report

infestations; map reported

populations.

Biocontrol agents are

unavailable.

Spray at early leafstage before 

flower bolt. For ground

application, use truck-mounted

or tractor-pulled spraying

equipment. Wash underneath

vehicle after application to

prevent spread.

Rangeland or

pasture

Disking in early

growth can eliminate

the weed; consider

combining any

cultivation with

follow-up herbicide

control.

Fire, except as spot

burning, is not

recommended.

Use seed and forage hay 

certified to be weed-free; use 

pellets for horses in backcountry areas.

Monitor areas where soil was

imported or hay bales were

used for erosion control.

Re-seed with plants that are

desirable and will provide

competition.

Use of a grazing to

reduce or eliminate

Sahara mustard has not

been researched.

Manage grazing closely 

to prevent overuse.

Biocontrol agents are

unavailable.

Spray at early leafstage before 

flower bolt. For ground

application, use truck-mounted

or tractor-pulled spraying

equipment. Wash under vehicle 

after application to prevent

spread.

Spot spray sparse populations;

use a backpack or hand held

sprayer.

Riparian areas,

wilderness and

other natural

areas, and/or

small

infestations

Hand-pull or hoe

small patches; remove

as much of the root as 

possible; bag and

dispose of debris 

appropriately.

Use seed and forage hay 

certified to be weed-free; use 

pellets for horses in backcountry areas.

Educate the public to identify

and report infestations.

After passing through infested

areas, inspect and remove any

seed or root fragments from 

animals, clothing, and vehicles.

Same as above. Same as above.

* Choice of a particular management option must be in compliance with existing regulations for the land resource.

Cultural Control

Early detection and plant removal are critical for

preventing Sahara mustard establishment. Land managers, 

the local public, and road crews should be educated as to 

how to identify Sahara mustard in all life stages so they

can help report suspected infestations. Seed and materials 

used for mulch, forage, or fill should be certified to be 

weed-free; pellets may be used for horses in back-country 

areas. Vehicles, humans, and livestock should be 

discouraged from traveling through infested areas to 

minimize seed spread.

Biological Control

Grazing

There is little research or practical experience reported

related to grazing Sahara mustard by livestock. However, 

caution should be exercised when grazing these areas as

other plant members of the mustard family are known to

be poisonous to goats, sheep, horses, and cattle.

Classical Biological Control

There are no classical biocontrol agents (insects, pathogens, 

etc.) that have been approved by USDA for managing

Sahara mustard.
4 

Chemical Control

Herbicides can be an effective tool for managing Sahara

mustard, especially when used as part of an integrated

strategy. Numerous herbicides are available that can easily

control Sahara mustard as well as other annual members of 

the mustard family. Herbicide choice depends on local

conditions, label restrictions, land use objectives, and cost. 

See table 2 for a summary of some effective herbicide

choices. Each herbicide product will have different 

requirements and restrictions according to the label. Read 

and understand prior to any application. Consult the 

registrant if you have questions or need further detail.

Herbicide Application

Herbicide applications should be made in early leaf stages

of development and always before flowering. If young

plants or seedlings are found, apply herbicides as soon as

possible to prevent them from producing flower heads or 

seed. If the majority of plants have already produced fruits, 

then plants should be hand-pulled or hoed and removed 

from the site.

Herbicides may be applied with backpack or hand-held 

sprayers, ATV or UTV sprayers, or conventional boom 

sprayers that are pulled or attached to a tractor or truck.

Any equipment used to spray herbicide should be 

calibrated. For sparse populations, one person or a small 

team can spot spray Sahara mustard. With this method, 

simply walk through the infested area and directly spray 

the foliage of individual plants without dripping by using 

an adjustable spray nozzle attached to a hand-held or 

backpack sprayer. Precautions should be taken if nontarget plants (including woody species) need to be 

protected from herbicide application. This includes 

situations where spray drift, soil erosion, or water 

movement potentially could occur.

Integrated Control Methods

Combining methods, as outlined in this guide, should 

always be considered in controlling Sahara mustard. For

example, physical methods such as shallow disking used in 

combination with follow-up chemical control can be

effective. To enhance long-term control, consider a

management approach that encourages and maintains 

competitive desirable plants. A healthy, well-maintained 

population of native plants can dramatically slow the 

introduction and spread of Sahara mustard.

Management Strategies 

Complete eradication of new infestations is highly

encouraged, especially in in New Mexico where this plant

is not well established. Frequentscouting for new 

populations should be conducted to control newly emerged

seedlings. Surveying should be conducted after major rain

events in early winter through spring to detect rosettes that 

form the leading edge of expanding populations. When 

new infestations are discovered, plants should be removed 

immediately to prevent further spread. Small or isolated 

infestations on otherwise healthy sites should be given 

high priority for treatment, followed by treatment of 

corridors such as roadways and hiking trails that act as 

pathways for spread.

Regardless of the strategy used, Sahara mustard typically 

cannot be effectively controlled within a single year. 

Complete eradication will likely require 3 to 10 years of 

repeated methods for control. Since it is ordinarily useless 

to treat an area only one time without retreatment, 

sufficient resources must be allocated for the area where 

control is attempted. After initial treatment, it is important 

that resources are also available to respray or retreat the 

treated area as necessary. Follow-up treatments should 

then be implemented to capture new or returning plants. 

Previously treated areas should always be monitored to 

detect and control recovering Sahara mustard.
5 

Table 2. Herbicide recommendations

Common

Chemical

Name (active 

ingredient)

Product

Example1

Broadcast 

Treatment 

(rate per 

acre)

Spot 

Treatment 

(spray 

solution)2

Time of

Application Remarks

2,4-D ester or 

amine3

Several 

products and

manufacturers

Depends upon 

formulation (1-

2 lbs. ae)

3 to 5% Spring Selective; apply in early leaf stage. If infestation is 

dense, mow first and apply to re-growth before 

flower stage.

Aminopyralid Milestone 1/4 to 1/3 pint 3 to 5% Same as 

above.

Broadleaf-specific herbicide; does not harm grasses.

Best applied as a course low-pressure spot spray. Use

0.25% -0.5% v/v NIS when conditions are adverse 

(high heat, low relative humidity or dusty conditions)

or on mature stands.4

Labeled for use up to water’s edge. Some grazing

recommendations. May be used in combination with

2,4-D.

Aminopyralid

+ metsulfuron

methyl

Opensight

Chaparral

2.5 to 3.3 

oz./acre

n/a Spring or fall A selective granule herbicide for use on noncropland, rights-of-way, non-irrigation ditch banks, 

natural areas, and grazed areas in and around these

sites.

Clopyralid Curtail

[others

available] 

2 to 3 quarts 1 to 3% Same as 

above

Broadleaf-specific herbicide; does not harm most 

established grasses. Wait 30 days to establish 

perennial grasses. Can be used on rangeland, irrigated

pasture or meadow, but not directly to water. Not 

recommended for highly permeable soils or shallow 

groundwater areas.

May be used in combination with 2,4-D. May use up 

to 0.5% v/v NIS.4

Dicamba + 

2,4-D3

Weedmaster 2 to 4 pints 1 to 3% Seedling to

rosette stage

Selective with a broad spectrum; may affectsome

sensitive pasture grasses such as bentgrass and

legumes like alfalfa. Not for use near water.

MetsulfuronmethylEscort Ally

[others

available] 

0.5 to 1.0 oz. n/a Early leaf

stage; usually

fall or winter

Selective; safe for most perennial grasses; add 0.25% 

v/v NIS.4 Not for use near irrigation water. Apply to 

green healthy plants. May be used in combination

with 2,4-D.

Triclopyr Garlon 3A 

Remedy

[others

available] 

3 quarts 3 to 5% Same as 

above.

Selective; safe for most perennial grasses; add 0.25% 

v/v NIS4

; labeled for riparian areas and use near water 

bodies.

1 Trade names for products are provided for example purposes only, and other products with the same active ingredient(s) may beavailable. Individual 

product labels should be examined for specific information and appropriate use with Sahara mustard. 

2 Spray solution is the herbicide/water ratio in a spray mix that may be used for spot treatment with backpack or hand-held sprayers. The amount of product 

applied during an annual growing season must not exceed the maximum application rate per acre as specified by the product label – refer to the product 

label for the site type and application.

3 2,4-D is a restricted use pesticide in New Mexico only. A certified applicator’s license is required for purchase and use.

4 NIS is an abbreviation for non-ionic surfactant which is an additive commonly recommended by herbicide labels for post-emergent foliar application of

herbicide.
6 

References and Further 

Information

Brooks, M.L., J.V. Draper, and M.R. Trader. 2006. 

Controlling Sahara mustard: evaluation of herbicide

and mechanical treatments (California). Ecol.

Restor. 24: 277-278.

Deuser, C. 2005. Sahara mustard control strategies.Sahara

mustard workshop. Available at http://www.cal-ipc.

org/ip/research/saharan/pdf/SahMust_ControlStrat.

pdf (accessed July 2014).

Graham, J., W.S. Johnson, and E. Powell. 2002. Identifying 

and managing Sahara mustard. Univ. of Nevada

Fact Sheet-05-02. Available at

https://www.unce.unr.edu/ publications/files/nr/ 

2005/FS0502.pdf (accessed July 2014)

Holt, J.S. and C.W. Barrows. 2010. Sahara mustard 

(Brassica tournefortii). Available at https://cisr.ucr.

edu/sahara_mustard.html (accessed July 2014).

Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. Available at

http://www.invasive.org/weedus/index.html 

(accessed July 2014)

Malusa, J., B. Halvorson, and D. Angell. 2003. Distribution 

of the exotic mustard Brassica tournefortii in the

Mohawk Dunes and Mountains, Arizona.Desert

Plants 19(1):31-36.

Minnich, R.A. and A.C. Sanders. 2000. Brassica

tournefortii Gouan. In: C.C. Bossard et al. (eds.) 

Invasive Plants of California's Wildlands. Univ. of 

Calif. Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles. 360 pp.

Renz, M.J. 2006. Sahara mustard (Brassica tournefortii).

NMSU Weed Factsheet. Available at http://weeds.

nmsu.edu/pdfs/sahara mustard_factsheet_3-14-

06.pdf (accessed July 2014)

Sanders, A., and R. Minnich. 2000. Brassica tournefortii.

In: C.C. Bossard et al. (eds.) Invasive Plants of 

California's Wildlands. Univ. of Calif. Press,

Berkeley, CA. 360 pp.

USDA Plants Database. 2010. Available at

http://plants.usda.gov/index.html. (accessed July 

2014)

USGS Western Ecological Research Center. Invasive weed 

removal and habitat restoration: Sahara mustard.

Available athttp://www.werc.usgs.gov/Project.

aspx?ProjectID=95 (accessed July 2014).

Suggested Websites

For information on invasive species: 

National Invasive Species Information Center

http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/ 

Invasive.Org

https://www.invasive.org/species.cfm

For information about calibrating spray equipment: 

NMSU Cooperative Extension Service Guide A-613 

Sprayer Calibration. Available at

http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_a/A-613.pdf

Herbicide labels online: 

http://www.cdms.net/
For more information or

other field guides, contact:

USDA Forest Service 

Southwestern Region

Forest Health

333 Broadway Blvd., SE 

Albuquerque, NM 87102

Or visit the Southwestern Region’s 

website for invasive species:

http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r3/invasivespecies

The use of trade or firm names in this publication is for reader 

information only and does not imply endorsement of any 

product or service by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

Recommendations made here for 

pesticide use are not obligatory, 

nor do they imply that discussed 

uses have been registered. All 

uses of pesticides must be 

registered by appropriate State 

and/or Federal agencies before 

they can be applied. 

CAUTION: Pesticides can be 

injurious to humans, domestic 

animals, desirable plants, and fish or other wildlife—if they 

are not handled or applied properly. Use all pesticides 

carefully and lawfully. Follow recommended practices for the 

disposal of surplus pesticides and pesticide containers.