Stem

  • Up to 3 ft. tall and branched; upper stem lacks hair (glabrous); lower stem covered with stiff, downward-pointing hairs.
African Mustard
Closeup of the central stem

Leaves

  • Rosette leaves up to 12 in. long and pinnate-divided with 6-14 pairs of leaflets; edges (margins) are toothed.
  • Stems have very few leaves; typically small and oval to strap-like (linear) with toothed to lobed edges.
African Mustard
First leave of a sprouting plant

Flower

  • Small (less than 0.6 in. wide) and yellow with four petals.
  • Seed pods are round, slender and 1.5-2.5 in. long; the end tapers to a point; contain numerous round seeds; pod constricts around seeds (appears beaded).
African Mustard leaves
Closeup of the inflorescences

Root

  • Deep, slender taproot
 

Other

  • Grows best in sites with dry, sandy soils and sparse vegetation; often infests roadsides, waste areas, washes and desert areas; known to occur in Clark, Lincoln and Nye counties.
  • Annual; reproduces by seed
  • Also known as Sahara mustard
African Mustard
Adult plant

Control

  • Repeated hand-removal can be effective; disturbances such as fire, tillage and grazing often promote mustard growth.
  • Apply 2,4-D, glyphosate or triclopyr post-emergence; chlorsulfuron or imazapic pre- or post emergence.
Blecker, L., Creech, E., Dick, J., Gephart, S., Hefner, M., H. Kratsch, Moe, A., Schultz, B. 2020, Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – African mustard, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Field Guide

Extension Associated Contacts

Heidi Kratsch
Heidi Kratsch
 

Also of Interest:

 
Identifying and Managing Sahara Mustard
This fact sheet contains information on Sahara Mustard by explaining how one can identify and manage the plant. Learn more about the habitat and the impact of Sahara Mustard as an invasive species.
 Graham, J., Johnson, W., Powell, E. 2005, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno, FS-05-02
 

Associated Programs

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Master Gardeners of Nevada

Program trains local gardeners to provide research-based horticulture information to Nevadans

master gardeners in garden

Master Gardeners of Washoe County

Master Gardeners provide free, research-based horticulture information to Nevadans.

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Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management program is a long-term management strategy that uses a combination of tactics to reduce pests to tolerable levels with potentially lower costs for the pest manager and minimal effect on the environment.