Asarum canadense - Wild Ginger

Asarum canadense - Wild GingerSizes available: HPP #1 Basics: zones 3 7, 4 10" x 6 18", part shade to full shade, the fascinating, secretive brownish red flower is hidden under the leaves in mid spring. Get down on your knees and check it out! Although every resource says this plant wants consistent moisture, I have found it to be quite adaptable to drier shade. Wild ginger does like a neutral to acidic woodland soil with some richness to it. Common names: Wild Ginger, Catfoot,

Sizes available: HPP #1

Basics: zones 3-7, 4-10" x 6-18", part shade to full shade, the fascinating, secretive brownish-red flower is hidden under the leaves in mid-spring. Get down on your knees and check it out! Although every resource says this plant wants consistent moisture, I have found it to be quite adaptable to drier shade. Wild ginger does like a neutral to acidic woodland soil with some richness to it.

Common names: Wild Ginger, Catfoot, Broad-leaved Asarabacca, Woodland Ginger, Sturgeon Potato, Namepin

Family: Aristolochiaceae

Origin/Distribution: eastern North America From Quebec and New Brunswick to Ontario and Minnesota south to Florida and Louisiana, native to Maine

Habitat: shady moist woods and woodland slopes, deciduous understory

More: Wild ginger holds its foliage well through the summer so it's a good companion for spring ephemerals. It has the ability to shade out some invasive like Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata). A potential colony-former with velvety, kidney-shaped leaves. The seeds are distributed by ants and it also spreads by rhizome, Deer resistant. The root has been used medicinally, and the plant contains the anti-tumor compound aristolochic acid. However, some sources say it has potentially carcinogenic properties as well. The roots have also been used as a spice, mostly to mask the muddy flavors of certain fish or make meats palatable/digestible.

Source: Van Berkum or Honey Petal Plants

Photo credits: Frank Meuschke of Shelterwood Gardens; also Wikimedia Commons