Canada Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
Also known as: Canadian Wild Ginger
Heart-shaped leaves form dense groundcover; ground-level flowers. The pungent, gingery root was historically used as a ginger substitute, but the whole plant contains aristolochic acid, a potent kidney toxin and carcinogen — the FDA has warned against consuming wild ginger in any form. Enjoy this one strictly as a groundcover, not a seasoning.
- Family
- Aristolochiaceae
- Type
- wildflower
- Lifespan
- perennial
- Height
- 0.5–1 ft
- Spacing
- 1–1.5 ft apart
- Light
- part shade, shade
- Soil moisture
- moist
- Soil pH
- acidic, neutral
- Bloom
- April, May, June
- Bloom colors
- red, green, purple, brown
- Wildlife value
- butterflies, larval host
- Landscape uses
- groundcover, container, erosion control, naturalizing
- Native states
- AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV