Asarum canadense
Asarum canadense photo Suzanne Patry

American Ginger

Asarum canadense is a North American native wildflower with heart or kidney shaped leaves. It is grown for the foliage because the flowers, although very interesting when examined up close, are very tiny and hang below the foliage. It is an excellent groundcover in woodland gardens. It can also be used as an edger.

Growing and Maintenance Tips

Asarum canadense is easy to grow in damp well drained soil in part to full shade. It prefers acidic soil and will tolerate a lot of shade. It spreads slowly by rhizomes to form a dense mat. It has no serious insect or disease problems although slugs and snails have been known to nibble on the leaves.

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