Asarum canadense - wild ginger
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DESCRIPTION
wild ginger
Asarum canadense
Rounded, deep green, cup-like leaves form a tight, spreading bun of green that offers protection to woodland critters as well as small, purple flowers that are located at the base of the leaf stem in the spring.
BENEFITS
- Prefers moist soil, but will tolerate drier soils
- Great food source for many Swallowtails
- Unique leaf shape offers great interest and cover
- Foliage becomes larger in deep shade
- A refined groundcover and great for critter cover
NATIVE INFO
Native Range
Shaded, moist well drained wooded areas from Maine west to North Dakota south to Georgia, Louisiana and Oklahoma.
Map Credit: The Biota of North America
Map Key: Green (native), Teal (native, adventive), Blue (present), Yellow (present & rare), Red (extinct)
INTERESTING FACTS
The fresh and dried roots of Asarum canadense were previously used by foragers in cooking as an early ginger substitute.
GROWING TIPS
Thrives in moist, well-drained soil and shade and is a controlled spreader.
Mature Size: 8-10" T x 8-10" W
Hardiness Zone: 3 - 6
Sun Exposure: Part Shade to Full Shade
VIDEO
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American Beauties Offer Solution Based Plant Collections to Help you Choose
Quick Tips for Choosing Plants:
- Planting a variety of native trees, shrubs, perennials and vines increases biodiversity and gives wildlife a source for food, cover and nesting
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A Special Note About Exposure
Full sun: Prefers six or more hours of direct sunshine a day
Partial shade: Thrives in three to six hours of daily sunshine
Shade: Generally does well with less than three hours of sun per day. Having said that even shade loving plants will struggle in extremely deep shade.
DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES
Best Plants for Bees - Double sided printout for download
Best Plants for Butterflies - Double sided printout for download