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Wild Ginger

Asarum Canadense

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Overview

Wild Ginger, or Asarum canadense, is a North American perennial groundcover. Growing to 6 inches tall, it thrives in shade to part-shade and prefers moist, rich soil. With heart-shaped leaves reaching 6 inches wide, it spreads to form a dense, 12-24 inches wide mat. Maroon, bell-shaped flowers bloom subtly beneath foliage in spring. Its rootstock emits a ginger-like fragrance, hence the name. Hardy, low-maintenance, and excellent for naturalistic woodland settings.

Sun Half, ShadeWater MediumZones 3–8Type Ground coverClimate Temperate
Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — Wild Ginger, or Asarum canadense, is a North American perennial groundcover; maroon, bell-shaped flowers bloom, image 85
Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — Wild Ginger also holds historical significance for its culinary uses; maroon, bell-shaped flowers bloom subtly beneath foliageWild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — with a velvety texture that can span up to 6 inches across; maroon, bell-shaped flowers bloom subtly beneath foliage in springWild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — ground cover for half or shadeWild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — is a North American native perennial that thrives in the dappled shade of woodland settings; typically reaching, image 71Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — making it an exemplary choice for naturalistic and shade garden designsWild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — is a North American native perennial that thrives in the dappled shade of woodland settings; typically reaching, image 92+132

Culture

Sun
Half, Shade
Water
Medium
USDA zones
3–8

Shape & size

Classification

Type
Ground cover
Family
Aristolochiaceae
Climate
Temperate

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Photos (139)

Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — Wild Ginger, or Asarum canadense, is a North American perennial groundcover; maroon, bell-shaped flowers bloom, image 85
Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — Wild Ginger also holds historical significance for its culinary uses; maroon, bell-shaped flowers bloom subtly beneath foliage
Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — with a velvety texture that can span up to 6 inches across; maroon, bell-shaped flowers bloom subtly beneath foliage in spring
Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — ground cover for half or shade
Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — is a North American native perennial that thrives in the dappled shade of woodland settings; typically reaching, image 71
Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — making it an exemplary choice for naturalistic and shade garden designs
Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — is a North American native perennial that thrives in the dappled shade of woodland settings; typically reaching, image 92
Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — Wild Ginger also holds historical significance for its culinary uses; maroon, bell-shaped flowers bloom subtly, image 61
Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — Wild Ginger also holds historical significance for its culinary uses; maroon, bell-shaped flowers bloom subtly, image 82
Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — When planting, space the rhizomes approximately 12 inches apart to establish a dense mat, image 60
Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — Maroon, bell-shaped flowers bloom subtly beneath foliage in spring, image 67
Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — Growing to 6 inches tall, it thrives in shade to part-shade and prefers moist, rich soil; typically reaching only, image 86
Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — With heart-shaped leaves reaching 6 inches wide, it spreads to form a dense, 12-24 inches wide mat; when planting, image 66
Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — Maroon, bell-shaped flowers bloom subtly beneath foliage in spring, image 25
Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — When planting, space the rhizomes approximately 12 inches apart to establish a dense mat
Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — The flowers are a reddish-brown hue; maroon, bell-shaped flowers bloom subtly beneath foliage in spring, image 79
Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — making it an exemplary choice for naturalistic and shade garden designs; when planting, space the rhizomes, image 93
Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — well-drained soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH; typically reaching only 6 to 12 inches in height with a, image 80
Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — The flowers are a reddish-brown hue
Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — making it an exemplary choice for naturalistic and shade garden designs; when planting, space the rhizomes, image 51
Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — The plant boasts a low-spreading habit; maroon, bell-shaped flowers bloom subtly beneath foliage in spring
Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — making it an exemplary choice for naturalistic and shade garden designs; when planting, space the rhizomes approximately 12
Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — Growing to 6 inches tall, it thrives in shade to part-shade and prefers moist, rich soil; typically reaching only, image 107
Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — Hardy, low-maintenance, and excellent for naturalistic woodland settings; when planting, space the rhizomes, image 69
Photographs by 14 contributors

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