The bright yellow wildflowers of Brassica nigra are gorgeous, useful, and an invasive blight on our native ecosystem.
If you ’ve ever gone for ahikeor driven along the 101 freeway in LA , or just scrolled through societal media during spring , you ’ve likely noticed thestunning array of wildflower blossomsthat engulf the hillsides , transforming the land into a vivid but light - experience spectacle .
But there ’s one flower that stands out in especial in other Spring , and it ’s become even more of a flashpoint than the California Poppy — dim table mustard . From February to May it ’s unacceptable to avoid these marvelous stalks of bright sensationalistic peak drive over the grassland , scattered correctly next to a busy highway , blanketing mound , or cautiously come out in between row of grapes in vineyards .
This isBrassica nigra , a quick - produce , speedily spreading wild industrial plant that often shoot down up into the air as high as six feet grandiloquent and thrives up and down California . With their dense thickets of dazzling yellow , they make beautiful photo backdrops , but their intrusive nature is n’t always good for California ’s ecosystem . They ’re an invasive species , deeply rooted in California ’s history for good and for worse .
Photo courtesy of Sonoma County Tourism
For some , they stand for the dawning of spring , and chemical - complimentary protection for their valued vineyards . For others , they ’re a symbol of oppression and the colonial history of California . Here ’s what you should get laid about this fascinating flora next time you spy it in the wild , and everything to consider about this unique plant , before , after , or during your next bloom selfie .
An invasive colonial history
The run theory is that black mustard ’s comer in California is link to Spanish colonization in the 1700s . Legends arrogate these plants were intentionally scattered by Spanish missionaries to check off the fashion from charge to foreign mission with a trail of efflorescence on El Camino Real .
This story has n’t been officially prove , but it makes sentience in context . Moreover , before the Spanish incursion there was no grounds of this flush develop in California , nor any signaling of invasive plant mintage like this at all . The theory then suggests that the encroaching plant diffuse further as the great unwashed displace and cattle migrated . The seminal fluid travel with the colonists and their livestock , and slowly but surely , plant living on the West Coast changed perpetually .
Plant-based chemical warfare
In today ’s California ecosystem , many botanists and industrial plant experts consider these blossom elusive , especially because they ’re unmanageable to steady down out and sharply expansionist — black leaf mustard often kills off aboriginal plants in its habitat .
aged Rare Plant Conservation ScientistHeather Schneider , Ph.D. , of theSanta Barbara Botanic Gardenexplains how black mustard greens has such a insidious influence : “ [ It ] has two ways that it competes with aboriginal plant . First , it germinates and grows very quickly . Black mustard flora are very gravid ( up to six feet or tall when they are thriving ) and take up space and grime resources , creating conditions that make it hard for natives to germinate and procreate , ” she says . But that ’s not all , according to Schneider , “ black table mustard ’s secret weapon system is ‘ allelopathy , ’ which is essentially chemical warfare . The roots of black leaf mustard exude chemicals in the dirt that inhibit the germination of source from other kinds of plants , preventing them from standing a prospect against black table mustard . ”
As if this was n’t enough , after their expansive outflow prime , the bleak mustard stalks die and dry out out , making splendid fuel for wildfire during crispy California summertime . These fires also shift the ecosystem , make atmospheric condition in which other foreign-born plants thrive , further degrading biodiversity . And that abjection has a harmful bash - on force on the many animals ( and people ) that count on aboriginal flora .
Photo courtesy of Sonoma County Tourism
It’s not all bad
But not everyone shares those ecological care , and in fact , some people have been able to put black mustard to good use . Brian Talley , Owner & Vintner ofTalley Vineyardsin Arroyo Grande , sees the problems the industrial plant can cause — but his squad does its dear to work with them rather of fighting against them . They remove the plants before they can take over since it ’s difficult to work with , but they also use it for its practical fumigation properties .
“ I ’m get out both ways on the subject of mustard , ” he says . “ presently , we mow it or use mechanical tillage to take away it … On the other hand , Talley Farmsis part of the family and we embed it due to its fumigation properties . Some of the res publica around here harbors a dirt pathogen called verticillium and Indian mustard , being in the brassica family , has stain fumigation properties that are helpful . "
Kevin Jussila , Winemaker and Owner ofKukkula Vineyardsin Paso Robles , also recognize the blooms are a multidimensional challenge . He match there are benefits to working with the table mustard plants as natural agent against pest , and as a ground stabiliser instead of unnatural chemical — but acknowledges the plant ’s aggressive nature .
Photo courtesy of Kukkula Vineyards
" As an constitutive dry husbandman , it and all the other native plants make it less potential to necessitate additions to our soil during the mature season , ” sound out Jussila .
Dry farmingmeans using little irrigation during a dry season , a sort of location - ground approach to farming — in this case , working holistically with California ’s ironical weather to find water naturally . Jussila excuse his squad tries to harness Mustard plants for sound , by using it as mulch since it provides phosphorus and other nutrient for the soil , and to press erosion on the farm ’s steep incline . He enunciate it also helps ward off pestilence like the vineyard ’s nematode universe .
Gelert Hart , Vineyard Manager and Winemaker atAmbyth Estatein Templeton , acknowledge he ’s not a leaf mustard plant specialist but say his squad relies on circulate forage that admit mustard by way of knowing animal skimming and calculated mowing and weed control .
Photo courtesy of Sonoma County Tourism
“ Though we do n’t have the plant everywhere , it seems to really flourish and attracts loading of good insects , ” says Hart . “ So , we semi - be intimate it and tend to permit [ it ] flourish rather than see to it it . ”
The draw of flower-seeking tourists (and their dollars)
vintner have put the invading plant to work , and it ’s also been a boon for tourism - rivet community in California .
Birgitt Vaughan , Director of Public Relations atSonoma County Tourism , witness the yearly spectacle ’s positivistic impingement : “ The blooming table mustard airfield create a breathtaking scene that hex many visitant , provide a picturesque setting for fascinate memorable photographs and portrayal . ” And , she notes , “ the vibrant yellow hues of table mustard flowers not only allure human admirers but also appeal bees and other insect and serve as a full of life source of nectar and pollen . ”
Vaughan also prompt visitors that this is a gorgeous natural phenomenon , and to be reverential of the peak and not mistreat on , seat on , pick , or otherwise agitate them . And if you do want to see the remarkable waves of yellow blossoms , ensure to clock your sojourn to the mustard greens efflorescence season — ideally soon , before these early - bloomers dry out .
Photo courtesy of Kukkula Vineyards
A balanced future
The flowers are undeniably beautiful , a spectacle worth figure , and they ’re also a problematic incursive coinage . Perhaps the honorable bet for California ’s time to come , then , is to appreciate black mustard for its raw beauty and for what it can give to our farmers in territory improvement and raw pest bar , while also working to slow its spread where we can .
According to Dr. Schneider , the plant is so far-flung and also so survivable and difficult to remove that obliteration is already impossible anyway . The blooming might seem fugitive , but those come can live for decades underneath the ground , entail it takes years of uniform metre and travail to effectively treat invaded place .
That ’s not to say that it ’s hopeless , of course — ecological organizations likeFriends of Elysian Parkhave host weeding parties , and they have determine some good results . The more people who get involve , the better chance we have to preserve as much space as possible for native plants to flourish .
“ The displays can be quite striking , blanketing hillside as far as the eye can see , ” saysSchneider . “ But if the table mustard was n’t there , those icteric swath should be a jumble of yellow , orange and violet native wildflowers , showcasing our famous flowered diverseness . ”
