Wild Ginger

Wild ginger (Asarum canadense), which is no relation to culinary ginger, is a native perennial herb found in the eastern and midwestern United States, southeastern Canada, and parts of Asia where it grows in woodlands. It occurs throughout Missouri except in southeastern lowlands and some western areas.

Large heart-shaped dark green leaves rise on hairy stalks to about 6-8 inches tall and form a mound about 12 inches wide. The inconspicuous, yet unusual, flowers are hidden beneath the leaves. The flowers are about one-inch in size, brownish-purple, and cup-shaped with three small tips. The flowers appear in April and May, not long after the leaves emerge around March. This herb is a host plant for Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly caterpillars.

Historically, the roots were used in colonial times as a substitute for culinary ginger. Internal use is no longer recommended because the plant contains a strong toxin. Wild ginger is a low maintenance groundcover for a shade or woodland garden. In the landscape, this plant does well in mass plantings such as around trees or in front of evergreen shrubs. It grows well with other shade-loving native and non-native plants such as ferns, Solomon seal, columbine, bleeding heart, goldenseal, and bluebells.

Wild ginger grows in shady areas with moist, humus-rich soil in zones 3-8. It prefers medium to wet conditions in acidic soil in heavy shade. In the proper location, extra watering should not be necessary, unless there is a drought. Wild ginger spreads from rhizomes to form an attractive groundcover, without being too aggressive. It is resistant to deer and rabbits.

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