Brassica nigra (black mustard)

Brassica nigra

Photo courtesy Joseph DiTomaso

Brassica nigra (black mustard) is a winter annual herb/forb (family Brassicaceae). Like other mustards, black mustard grows profusely and produces allelopathic chemicals that prevent germination of native plants. The spread of black mustard can increase the frequency of fires in chaparral and coastal sage scrub, changing these habitats to annual grassland.

Cal-IPC Inventory rating:Moderate

Cal-IPC Resources on Brassica nigra

• California Invasive Plant Inventory Assessment Form (pdf) - Information gathered by Cal-IPC on the impacts, rate of spread, and distribution of invasive plants in California. Does not include management information.
• Cal-IPC News - Articles from our quarterly newsletter. Each issue is available as a pdf. List of articles on Brassica nigra.
• Cal-IPC Symposium Proceedings - Presentations and papers from our annual Symposium.List of articles on Brassica nigra.
• Weed Worker's Handbook (pdf) - Includes reproduction factors and treatment options.

Cal-IPC News Articles

• Holt, J. S. (2005). Invasive plants research at UC Riverside. Cal-IPC News. 13: 12-13.
• Kelly, M. (2000). Education: Wildland weed tours and talks. CalEPPC News. 8: 3-4.
• Perala, C., D. A. Hoover, et al. (1993). Control of exotic plants in an herbaceous understory. CalEPPC News. 1: 4-6.

Cal-IPC Symposium Proceedings

• Archbald, G. (1998). Mechanical control methods: beyond weed bashing. California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium '98. Ontario, CA.
• Burrascano, C. (2001). Review of the impact of invasive weeds on two endangered plant species: Acanthomintha ilicifolia (San Diego thornmint) and Monardella linoides ssp. viminea (willowly monardella). California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium 2001. San Diego, CA.
• Dickerson, E., C. Brigham, et al. (2004). Ecohelpers: Education and ecological restoration in Southern California. California Invasive Plant Council Symposium 2004. Ventura, CA.
• Keeley, J. E. (2004). Fire management impacts on invasive species at the wildland/urban interface in California. California Invasive Plant Council Symposium 2004. Ventura, CA.
• Lair, K., N. Ritter, et al. (2006). Restoration of retired San Joaquin Valley farmlands using herbicides and activated charcoal. Cal-IPC Symposium. Rohnert Park, CA.
• Marushia, R. and J. Holt (2005). Phenology of Brassica tournefortii in comparison to B. nigra, B. geniculata, and native Mojave Desert annuals. California Invasive Plant Council Symposium 2005. Chico, CA.
• Minnich, R. A. (1994). Effects of exotic plants on three California ecosystems. California Exotic Pest Plant Symposium '94. Sacramento, CA.
• St.John, T. (1998). Nitrate immobilization and the mycorrhizal network for control of exotic ruderals. California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium '98. Ontario, CA.
• White, V. A. and J. S. Holt (2002). Effect of competition on artichoke thistle, Cynara cardunculus. California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium 2002. Sacramento, CA.

Other Resources on Brassica nigra

• USDA PLANTS database - Federal database with information on identification and distribution, and links to websites in individual states.
• Jepson Online Interchange for California Flora - Information on taxonomy, biology, and distribution from the UC Berkeley Jepson Herbarium.
• CalFlora - Distribution information by county based on submitted observations and herbarium specimens.
• The Nature Conservancy Management Summary - Information compiled by TNC land managers. Photos included for some species.
• CalPhotos - Images of plants taken mostly in California.
• Natural Resource Projects Inventory - State database with information on resource management projects throughout California. Query by the species of interest.

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