It occupies and spreads in forest floors and other natural areas, such as parks and natural preserves. Garlic mustard can be distinguished from other woodland plants by the characteristic odor of garlic that the plants give off when crushed.
Garlic mustard is an invasive biennial herbaceous weed.
The first-year plants consist of three to four rounded leaves rising to about four inches from the ground. The plants grow as a roseate in the summer and remain green the following winter. Because of the green plants in winter, it is relatively easy to spot this pesky weed during the winter months. The second-year plants bloom early in May to early June and are about two feet tall when in bloom. They produce numerous white flowers with four separate petals.