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Asarum europaeum

asarabacca

AGM plants

AGM plants have been through a rigorous trial and assessment programme. They are:

  • Excellent for ordinary use in appropriate conditions
  • Available to buy
  • Of good constitution
  • Essentially stable in form & colour
  • Reasonably resistant to pests & diseases
asarabacca

© RHS

34 suppliers RHS Plant Shop from £6.99

  • Other common names asarabacca
    foalfoot

    foal's foot
    hazelwort
    wild ginger
    wild nard

    see more

  • Family Aristolochiaceae

  • 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

  • Details A. europaeum is a creeping, evergreen perennial forming carpets of kidney-shaped, glossy, dark green leaves. The green, then purple, flowers are hidden under the foliage

  • Plant range W Europe

Characteristics

  • Foliage Evergreen

  • Habit Mat forming

  • Fragrance Flower

  • 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

Sunlight

  • Full Shade

  • Partial Shade

  • Aspect North-facing or West-facing or East-facing

  • Exposure Sheltered

Soil

  • Sand

    Sand

  • Clay

    Clay

  • Loam

    Loam

  • MoistureMoist but well-drained

  • SoilSand, Clay, Loam

  • pHAcid, Neutral

Size

  • Ultimate height Up to 10 cm

  • Ultimate spread 0.1-0.5 metres

  • Time to ultimate height 2-5 years

How to grow

Cultivation Likes woodland conditions - a humus-rich, moist but well-drained, acid to neutral soil and full to partial shade

Propagation Propagate by seed sown in containers as soon as ripe, or divide in early spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types Garden Edging Ground Cover Underplanting of Roses and Shrubs

How to care

Pruning No pruning needed

Pests Slugs and snails can be a problem especially in spring

Diseases Generally trouble free

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Asarum europaeum

asarabacca

Buy from £6.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

Buy from £6.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

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