Jack-By-The-Hedge (Alliaria petiolata) - 12/04/09

Jack by the hedge Alliaria petiolata

Jack-By-The-Hedge Alliaria petiolata


The three images below show the young kidney-shaped leaves


Jack by the hedge Alliaria petiolata

Jack by the hedge Alliaria petiolata

Jack by the hedge Alliaria petiolata


Below is an image of an older, diamond shaped leaf.

 

Jack by the hedge Alliaria petiolata

 

Jack-By-The-Hedge Alliaria petiolata  is a common plant that can be found from countryside to the most built up of areas, often poking up through splits in pavements. It has crinkly, kidney shaped green leaves when young becoming more pointy with age.  These leaves smell of garlic if lightly rubbed or crushed. As it starts life it appears to carpet the ground and as it ages it becomes quite tall and then produces small white flowers and seed pods, which all have the same garlic scent. As the plant ages further the scent gradually fades, until it is only just noticeable. Jack-by-the-hedge or Garlic Mustard as it is also known, then slowly withers away until the following year.
 
LEAVES – the leaves make ideal sandwich fillers, and if the leaves are finely chopped and mixed with a little olive oil, they make a refreshing and delicate salad dressing.
 
FLOWERS – the flower have a punchy flavour and can also be added to salads.
 
SEED PODS – for me the seed pods are best eaten as a wayside snack, and although have the same flavour as the rest of the plant, they won’t make your breath smell as it would if you had eaten a clove of true garlic!


Comments

Kris on 10/05/10

Hi Carole,

This species will look quite different in each stage of it's life. Right now the leaves will look different, and the flowers will be white. When young the leaves are kidney-shaped as in this example. I will add some further images for you when I get some time, to show you how it looks when in full flower. This image was taken when very young.

Carole Cuthbertson on 10/05/10

I saw this plant on Garderners World on Friday and thought it was the same thing I'd seen in a wild part of my garden - so this morning I googled it - having looked at a few sites I'm a bit concerned that your photo is not of this plant, it looks very different on all other photos.

Kris on 27/05/09

Hi Brian,

I'm very pleased you find it useful. I will be adding lots more very soon.

Thanks for your feedback.

Kris

Brian F on 27/05/09

I have been looking around your whole site and find it very informative and useful. I came across the site by pure accident, while searching for wild garlic. I will certainly be visiting again as I live in the country in Somerset.

Marilyn felix on 26/04/09

i am amazed, and can not wait to try it.


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