Canadian Wild Ginger Asarum canadense
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ah-SAIR-um ka-na-DEN-see
- Description
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The native form of ornamental ginger has handsome foliage and high shade tolerance making it a great choice for a woodland or shade garden. Spreads by rhizomes; poor drought tolerance requiring high organic matter soil that is constantly moist. Light to deep shade; often found on rocky sites. It does well as an edging or border plant and will naturalize in your garden.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Slugs and snails can be occasional pests.
- Cultivars:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Asarum
- Species:
- canadense
- Family:
- Aristolochiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Root has a ginger-like scent, and early Americans used it as a ginger substitute but it is not widely used today.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Distribution:
- Manatoba to North Carolina
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer,erosion, wet soil, and heavy shade.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Horizontal
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Solitary, bell-shaped flower, often hidden among the fallen leaves; three spreading or recurved, pointed, brownish-purple lobes, flowers in mid-spring April-May.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Hairy
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Pair of heart-shaped, basal leathery, dull gray-green, very veined leaves; 3- to 6-in. long; covered with fine hairs
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Small Space
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Erosion
- Heavy Shade
- Wet Soil
- Asarum canadense is often confused with:
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Asarum splendens
- Similar plants:
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Arisaema triphyllum
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Polygonatum
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Aristolochia serpentaria
