Weeds: Tumblemustard (Jim Hill mustard) – Sisymbrium altissimum

categories: Weeds

revision date: 2022-12-18 12:00

Tumblemustard in bloom image 1.
Tumblemustard in bloom image 1
Photo by: J.A. Kropf
  • Family: Brassicaceae (Cruciferae)
  • Cycle: Annual
  • Plant type: Broadleaf

Biology

Tumblemustard grows 2-5 feet tall. Seedling plants are low-growing rosettes of deeply lobed leaves. Mature plants have stems that are simple below, and many-branched above, providing a bushy appearance. While lower leaves are coarse and divided into broad leaflets, upper leaves are finer with narrow segments. Flowers are small and pale yellow. Fruit are thin 2-valved capsules 2 to 4 inches long. Seeds are small, numerous, yellowish-brown, and oblong with a groove. The plant often breaks off at soil level when mature and spreads its seed while “tumbling” in the wind.

Habitat

A native of Europe, tumble mustard now thrives throughout North America on small grain fields, rangeland, waste areas, and roadsides.

Management Options

Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for successful plant problem management.

Non-chemical Management

Select non-chemical management options as your first choice!

  • Not a problem in healthy established turf.
  • Cultivation (rototilling or hoeing) will effectively eliminate plants.
  • Hand-pull to eliminate weeds.
  • Careful digging is useful to manage weed populations. However, digging can carry undesirable weed seed to the surface and foster further germination.

Chemical Management

IMPORTANT: Visit Home and Garden Fact Sheets for more information on using pesticides.

  • Apply according to label directions.
  • Glyphosate products should be applied as spot treatments only!
  • NOTE: Some ingredients listed here are only available in combination.
  • Read the label carefully on combination products to make sure the product is suitable for your specific situation.

Landscape areas

  • glyphosate

Turf areas

  • No products approved for use in turf.

Bare ground areas

  • glyphosate
  • products containing 2,4-D

Additional Images