Asarum canadense (Common or Canadian Wild Ginger)

Asarum canadense (Common or Canadian Wild Ginger)

Asarum canadense (Wild Ginger) in landscape. Photo by Elaine L. Mills, 2016-04-19, private garden Arlington, Virginia.

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Native to rich, deciduous forests in the eastern half of North America, Wild Ginger is common in much of the Mid-Atlantic Region* although infrequent-to-rare in the Coastal Plain. It naturalizes to create a lush ground cover with velvety, heart-shaped leaves. Historically used as a flavor substitute for culinary ginger, consumption today is ill-advised. The Virginia Native Plant Society selected Wild Ginger as Wildflower of the Year for 2010. Ground Cover Height: 1⁄2–1 foot Spread: 1–11⁄2 feet Bloom Color: Brown-purple Deciduous perennial ground cover Heart-shaped, veined, medium green basal leaves Tiny, ground-hugging, bell-shaped flowers appear from April to May, hidden by foliage Spreads slowly by rhizomes Tolerates wet soil and dense shade; drought- intolerant No serious pests or diseases; snails and slugs may feed on leaves in early spring Deer rarely damage (may browse on occasion) Larval host for Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly Soil Requirements: Acidic (prefers), well-drained Light Requirements: Partial Shade, Shade Water Requirements: Moist Divide mature plants early fall Use as edging, in rain, shade or woodland gardens, or massed on slopes to control erosion Glechoma hederacea - Ground Ivy Hedera helix - English Ivy Liriope species Ornithogalum nutans & O. umbellatum - Nodding Star-of-Bethlehem & Sleepydick Pachysandra terminalis - Japanese Pachysandra Characteristics Attributes Ethnobotanic uses; therapeutic uses (sedative, fever reducer); discouraged as substitute for culinary ginger as it may have toxic compounds Growing and Maintenance Tips Hardiness: USDA Zones 4–6 Images by Mary Free, Quarry Shade Garden

Tried and True Native Plant Selections
for the Mid-Atlantic

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Asarum canadense (Common or Canadian Wild Ginger)

Native to rich, deciduous forests in the eastern half of North America, Wild Ginger is common in much of the Mid-Atlantic Region although infrequent-to-rare in the Coastal Plain. It naturalizes to create a lush ground cover with velvety, heart-shaped leaves. Historically used as a flavor substitute for culinary ginger, consumption today is ill advised. The Virginia Native Plant Society selected Wild Ginger as Wildflower of the Year for 2010.

Learn more about other Mid-Atlantic plants:
Tried and True Native Plant Fact Sheets

Asarum canadense (Common or Canadian Wild Ginger)

Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic

Print Version (Legal Size):Asarum canadense (Common or Canadian Wild Ginger)

Tried and True Native Plant Selections
for the Mid-Atlantic

Print Version (Legal Size):
Asarum canadense (Common or Canadian Wild Ginger)