wild ginger
Asarum caudatum
USDA zones7 to 10
SunHandles partial sun to full shade
WaterHandles dry to moist soil
Size3 to 6 inches tall6 to 18 inches wide
- Habit
- Herb
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer, autumn, winter
- Bloom color
- Rusty-brown to brownish-purple to yellow-green
- Foliage color
- Dark green
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay
- Soil pH
- Acid, neutral
Garden uses
Notes
Wild ginger (Asarum caudatum) is a perennial for shade gardens, woodland settings, and ground cover. It is hardy to USDA zone 7, or down to 0°F (-18°C). This plant likes part sun to full shade and dry to moist, sandy, loamy, or clay soil. Large, heart-shaped leaves hide the unusual, fuzzy, reddish-brown flowers. The stems creep and root to form dense patches, so give it room in large areas. Deer and rabbits tend to browse other plants first.
Pairs well with Japanese forest grass, Autumn fern, and Lungwort.
Native range
Western North America.