Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)
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Deciduous Perennial in the Aristolochiaceae Family | |
Asarum canadense, commonly known as wild ginger, is a versatile, low-growing perennial native to the deciduous forests of eastern North America. This shade-loving groundcover forms a dense carpet of large, heart-shaped leaves that emerge in early spring, providing an attractive, textural foliage display throughout the growing season. The leaves, which are a rich, glossy green, release a distinct ginger-like aroma when crushed, earning the plant its common name. In early to mid spring, just before the foliage fully unfurls, Asarum canadense produces unique, inconspicuous flowers that sit close to the ground, hidden beneath the leaves. These unusual, bell-shaped blooms range in color from reddish-brown to deep purple, adding subtle visual interest to the plant's groundcover-forming habit. Adaptable to a variety of soil types, from sandy to clay, wild ginger thrives in the dappled shade of woodland environments and is an excellent choice for naturalized garden settings, shady borders, and erosion-prone slopes. Its evergreen nature and tolerance for dry, challenging conditions make Asarum canadense a versatile and low-maintenance perennial for the shade garden. |
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Plant Data | |
Mature Size | 6 - 8 inches tall. 8 - 12 inches wide. |
Sun Exposure | Full Shade - Partial Sun |
Moisture Tolerance | - Wet |
Zones | 4a - 8b (Usually hardy to -30° F) |
Tags | Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Full Shade, Groundcover, Illinois Native, Most Popular, Native to North America, Non-Allergenic, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Wet, Wet Site Tolerant |
Bloom Period | April to May |
Flower Color | Purplish Brown |
Foliage Color |
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More Info from Experts |
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Photos of This with...Whitespire Gray Birch, Cushion Spurge, Lenten Rose, Plantain Lily, |
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Pricing and Availability HistoryClick a label to toggle visibility for that size
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We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!
Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.
Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.
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We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.
Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!