Asarum canadense

RHS Plant Profile

Canada wild ginger

Other common names

black snakeweed, Canadian snakeroot, colic root, false crowfoot, ginger root, heart-leaf, pigs, snake root, southern snakeroot, southern wild ginger, Vermont snakeroot

Synonyms

Asarum canadense var. acuminatum

Herbaceous Perennial

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A low-growing, spreading deciduous perennial with downy, heart-shaped green leaves in spring and purple-brown, cup-shaped flowers, often hidden by the foliage

Position

Full shade, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Full shade Partial shade

Aspect: West–facing or East–facing or North–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H6

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Aristolochiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Matforming
Potentially harmful: TOXIC if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. TOXIC to pets if eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Asarum are evergreen or deciduous, rhizomatous perennials forming a mat of long-stalked, heart-shaped or kidney-shaped leaves, sometimes with attractive silver mottling, and curious flowers consisteng of a 3-lobed calyx, often in "earthy" colours. They are commonly referred to as wild gingers (they are not culinary gingers) but are so-called because their rhizomes have a similar spicy scent
Name Status: Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Best grown on neutral to acidic, moist but well drained soil in partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by division

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds
Ground cover
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails

Diseases

Generally disease-free