Gingers
This group of plants is perfectly at home in a low-maintenance shade garden under deciduous trees.
We currently grow:
Asarum canadense (Canada Wild Ginger)
Asarum europeaum (European Wild Ginger)
Companions for Gingers
Canada Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
Also called American wild ginger, Indian ginger or Indian snakeroot
Height 4-8 inches (10-20 cm)
Spread 8-12 inches (20-30 cm)
Flower Dark red, at ground level
Hardiness Zones 3-8
Light Part shade to full shade
Moisture Evenly moist soils
Soil Humus-rich, neutral to acidic
This native deciduous woodland plant is commonplace throughout eastern North American forests, often accompanied by trilliums, ferns, bellwort, trout lily, jack-in-the-pulpit and blue cohosh. Pairs of fuzzy heart-shaped leaves, up to 6 inches wide, appear in spring. Fleshy rhizomes creep slowly along the soil surface, dividing into new buds each year. Flowers and fruit inconspicuous. Produced from local Ontario seed.
Supports Wildlife
Canadian wild ginger leaves are an alternative food source for the pipevine swallowtail butterfly (Battus philenor) and helps to extend its range north of its main food source, Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia macrophylla and A. serpentaria) Caterpillars are brown-black with small orange spots in two rows down their back.
Recommendations for growing Canadian Ginger
Native woodland soil with lots of well-composted leaf litter is good for ginger. If garden soil is light-textured or gravelly, blend in compost and peat moss for moisture retention. Plant rhizomes near soil surface and do not over-mulch (about 1" composted bark, or use shredded leaves). Serious diseases are seldom encountered, occasionally suffers root rot and leaf spots in wet years. No ongoing maintenance needs required except watering during hot spells.
Caution
Contact with roots can cause dermatitis in sensitive individuals. Although the plant has a history of ethnobotanical uses, ingestion of any part of the plant is discouraged.
Sold in 4" (10 cm pots) or 1 gallon.
Canadian Wild Ginger is perfectly at home in the shade garden. Photo taken at Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens.
The fleshy red flower emerges in between a pair of leaves in spring.
Typically slow-growing, a humus-rich acidic soil can create large rhizomes in two years.
Canadian Wild Ginger is perfectly at home in the shade garden. Photo taken at Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens.
A sophisticated evergreen version with smaller leaves than our native species. Great for edging in partial shade.
A sophisticated evergreen version with smaller leaves than our native species. Great for edging in partial shade.
European Ginger
Asarum europaeum
Height 4-6 inches (10-15 cm)
Spread 8-12 inches (20-30 cm)
Flower Dark red, at ground level
Hardiness Zones 4-7
Light Part shade to full shade
Moisture Evenly moist soils
Soil Humus-rich, neutral to acidic
The European cousin to our Canadian ginger differs in being fully evergreen, and with a smaller leaf only 3 inches wide. Thick, glossy, kidney-shaped leaves offer great ornamental value along shady paths. Fleshy rhizomes creep slowly along the soil surface, dividing into new buds each year. Flowers and fruit inconspicuous.
Recommendations for growing European Ginger
Native woodland soil with lots of well-composted leaf litter is good for ginger. If garden soil is light-textured or gravelly, blend in compost and peat moss for moisture retention. Plant rhizomes at soil surface and do not overmulch (about 1" composted bark, or use shredded leaves). Serious diseases are seldom encountered, occasionally suffers root rot and leaf spots. No ongoing maintenance needs required except watering during hot spells.
Sold in 4" (10 cm pots) only.
Companions for Gingers
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Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea'