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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

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) — typically reaching only 6 to 12 inches in height with a similar spread, image 53

Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — well-drained soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH

Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — adding a broad-leafed visual interest beneath taller plants or trees; typically reaching only 6 to 12 inches in, image 98

Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — Maroon, bell-shaped flowers bloom subtly beneath foliage in spring, image 88

Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — Wild Ginger, or Asarum canadense, is a North American perennial groundcover; maroon, bell-shaped flowers bloom subtly beneath

Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — is a North American native perennial that thrives in the dappled shade of woodland settings; typically reaching, image 113

Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — Wild Ginger, or Asarum canadense, is a North American perennial groundcover; maroon, bell-shaped flowers bloom, image 64

Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — typically reaching only 6 to 12 inches in height with a similar spread, image 32

Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — ground cover for half or shade; when planting, space the rhizomes approximately 12 inches apart to establish a, image 84

Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — typically reaching only 6 to 12 inches in height with a similar spread

Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — Its rootstock emits a ginger-like fragrance, hence the name; typically reaching only 6 to 12 inches in height with, image 89

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 87

Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — is a North American native perennial that thrives in the dappled shade of woodland settings; typically reaching only 6 to 12

Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — Wild Ginger, or Asarum canadense, is a North American perennial groundcover

Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — typically reaching only 6 to 12 inches in height with a similar spread, image 116

Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — creating a lush carpet of foliage.<br><br>The heart-shaped leaves of Wild Ginger are a deep green; when planting, image 96

Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — creating a lush carpet of foliage.<br><br>The heart-shaped leaves of Wild Ginger are a deep green; when planting, image 54

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 101

Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — typically reaching only 6 to 12 inches in height with a similar spread, image 95

Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — Maroon, bell-shaped flowers bloom subtly beneath foliage in spring, image 46

Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — commonly known as Wild Ginger; maroon, bell-shaped flowers bloom subtly beneath foliage in spring, image 49

Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — commonly known as Wild Ginger

Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — In late spring, the plant produces curious, cup-shaped flowers, which are often hidden beneath its foliage

Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense) — When planting, space the rhizomes approximately 12 inches apart to establish a dense mat, image 102

Photographs by 13 contributors

Ayotte, Gilles, 1948-, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Steve Fitzgerald, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
wackybadger, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Ethel Aardvark, CC BY 3.0 · source
David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Doug McGrady from Warwick, RI, USA, CC BY 2.0 · source
Joshua Mayer from Madison, WI, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Amos Oliver Doyle, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Greg Tasney, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Ken and Nyetta, CC BY 2.0 · source
Wasp32, CC BY 4.0 · source
Earthdirt Please attribute work to, CC BY 2.5 · source

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