Hedge Mustard

Sisymbruim officinale
Family: Brassicaceae

Growth Habit: Hedge mustard is a moderately competitive plant. Its hard, wiry stems which grow erect, can reach up to 1m.

Type of Plant: This weed is an annual, initially forming a rosette.

Flowers: Hedge mustard has 4 petalled, yellow flowers, 3-4mm in diameter. These are arranged in clusters.

Fruit/Seed: Seeds are housed in seed pods 10-20mm in length. These are located close and parallel to the stem. Several hard brown seeds are contained in each pod.

Dispersal: Reproduces from seed. Seed is mainly dispersed by soil movement and by machinery, particularly harvesters.

Distribution: Found in waste places, roadsides, orchards, cereal and vegetable crops.

Status: Undeclared in Tasmania.

Weed Impact:

  • Can be a significant weed of crops, particularly brassica crops such as canola.

For further information contact the Department of Primary Industry, Water and Environment, Tasmania.

Control Methods:

  • Grubbing (all year). Isolated plants may be manually removed with a fork or similar tool.
  • Herbicide (autumn, winter and spring). Herbicides registered in Tasmania include metsulfuron, glyphosate, dicamba, MCPA and mecoprop. Consult the D.P.I.W.E. for more specific information if the weed is in a crop.

N.B. Always check the herbicide label before use.