Asarum maximum
panda face ginger
A slowly-spreading, evergreen perennial with dark green, heart-shaped leaves, sometimes marbled with pale green or silver. The three-lobed, black and white flowers are produced in spring, though may be hidden by the foliage
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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Black White | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | |||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full shade
- Partial shade
Aspect
North–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H6Botanical details
- Family
- Aristolochiaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Matforming
- Potentially harmful
- TOXIC if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
- 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
- Plant range
- China (Sichuan, Hubei)
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
- Patio and container plants
- Underplanting of roses and shrubs
- Ground cover
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
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