Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
Courtesy Doug Sherman, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Summary
Although unrelated to culinary ginger, this low-growing perennial is still a treat for the pollinator garden. Its velvety, heart-shaped leaves and purplish flowers arise from a slowly- spreading rhizome, making it a good ground cover. As a spring woodland plant, wild ginger will do best in moist and well-drained wooded areas with a humus-rich soil. Herbivores such as deer avoid the unpalatable, mildly toxic leaves.
More Details
FAMILY
Aristolochiaceae (Birthwort)
BLOOM TIME
April-May
FLOWER
Purplish brown
MATURE SIZE
4-8 inches
LIGHT REQUIREMENT
Part shade to full shade
SOIL CONDITIONS
Medium to moist, well drained soils
NATIVE STATUS
PA Native
Ecosystem Connections
The unobtrusive purplish flowers, which hang down under the foliage, are pollinated by ants, flies and beetles that crawl into them. Wild ginger serves as a host plant for the Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly (Battus philenor).