Wild Ginger

Common Names

Wild Ginger, Canada Wild Ginger, Canadian Wild Ginger, Canadian Snakeroot, Snake Root, Ginger Root, Heart-Leaf, Southern Snakeroot, Vermont Snakeroot, Southern Wild Ginger, Indian Ginger, Broad-Leaved Asarabacca, Asarabaca, False Crowfoot

Summary

Asarum canadense, commonly known as wild ginger, is a native North American perennial that forms a deciduous ground cover in forest understories, spreads by creeping rhizomes to establish dense colonies, features a pair of heart-shaped, velvety leaves with a fragrance reminiscent of culinary ginger, and has small purplish-brown cup-shaped flowers that sit near the ground and are often hidden by the foliage in spring, and its distribution covers eastern North America with a low-growing habit suited to shaded woodland settings, for cultivation it prefers partial to full shade and moist, rich soils while tolerating a range of soils including clay and wet soils once established, propagation occurs by division and seed propagation is possible but germination can be slow, often requiring stratification and up to two years, it is deer resistant and the ginger-scented roots add ornamental value, all parts may be toxic if ingested so handling with care is advised, common uses include a low-maintenance ground cover in shaded woodland gardens and suitability for rain gardens or native plantings

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

6-12 inches

Spread

4-6 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 4-6

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full to partial shade; not competitive in sunnier, open areas and can tolerate some direct sun on very moist sites, but will burn in full sun.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained, humus-rich loam soil, slightly acidic to neutral

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained soil

Soil pH

Below 6.0, Acidic to neutral, Tolerates 6.0–8.0

Bloom Color

Reddish brown to purple

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Dark green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow growth, about 6-8 inches per year

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, and Fall.

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts butterflies, attracts other pollinators (flies, beetles, ants)