Mustard Family + Similar Species
Members of the mustard family (Brassicaceae) are herbaceous biennials and perennials with alternate stem leaves and basal rosettes of leaves. Flowers are four-parted and arranged in terminal clusters. Fruits are two-parted with rows of seeds divided by a thin septum.
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Look Alikes
While four-parted flowers and two-parted fruits are characteristics of the mustard family, other species share these characteristics, including greater celandine (Chelidonium majus), a member of the poppy family included in this group of invasive plants.
Individual species may have look-alikes, which can be differentiated based on characteristics like leaf shape and size, bloom time, and flower color.
Resource Table
| Classification | Common Name | Other Common Names | Scientific Name | Factsheets | Videos | Statewide Distribution Map | National Distribution Map | Look-Alike Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted | Dame's rocket | Hesperis matronalis | Factsheet 1 Factsheet 2 | Video | State Map | National Map | ||
| Restricted | Garlic mustard | Alliaria petiolata | Factsheet 1 Factsheet 2 | Video | State Map | National Map | ||
| Restricted | Greater celandine | Celandine | Chelidonium majus | Factsheet | State Map | National Map | ||
| Prohibited/Restricted | Hill mustard | Bunias orientalis | Factsheet | Video | State Map | National Map | ||
| Prohibited | Narrow leaf bittercress | Cardamine impatiens | Factsheet | State Map | National Map | |||
| Prohibited | Perennial pepperweed | Broadleaved pepperweed | Lepidium latifolium | Factsheet Factsheet 2 | Video | State Map | National Map |
Species Summary Table
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Leaves | Flowers | Seeds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alliaria petiolata | Garlic mustard | Kidney-shaped basal leaves, more triangular up the stem; scalloped edges; smell like garlic | Cluster of small (1/3”) white flowers; May - June | Slender seed pods, up to 2” long |
| Bunias orientalis | Hill mustard | Highly lobed, lance-shaped leaves similar to dandelions; smaller up stem; sometimes warty | Dense clusters of yellow, fragrant 2” flowers; May - June | Oval-shaped pods covered with warty bumps |
| Cardamine impatiens | Narrow leaf bittercress | Basal leaves compound with 3-11 lobed leaflets; stem leaves compound with 13+ lance- shaped leaflets | ½” rounded clusters of tiny white to green flowers; May – July | Slender seed pod, up to 1” long |
| Chelidonium majus | Greater celandine | Compound leaves with 5-9 lobed leaflets with rounded teeth; blue-green to green in color; broken stem exudes yellow to orange sap | Cluster of 3-8 yellow flowers, each about ¾”, May – Aug. | Slender seed pod, ¾ - 2” long |
| Hesperis matronalis | Dame’s rocket | Densely hairy toothed leaves, round at base and tapering to pointed tip | Clusters of flowers ¾ - 1”, ranging from white to pink to purple; May - July | Slender seed pod up to 4” long |
| Lepidium latifolium | Perennial pepperweed | Basal leaves up to 12” with serrated edges; stem leaves waxy, gray-green, 1-2” wide | Dense clusters of small, white flowers; late spring | Oval, hairy capsule, <0.1” |