Asarum canadense
Canada wild ginger
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
Other common names
Canadian snakerootcolic root
see morefalse crowfoot
ginger root
heart-leaf
pigs
snake root
southern snakeroot
southern wild ginger
Vermont snakeroot
Synonyms
Asarum canadense var. acuminatum
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.5–1 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Purple Brown | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | |||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter |
Position
- Full shade
- Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or East–facing or North–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H6Botanical 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
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
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