Wild Ginger

Asarum canadense

Family Aristolochiaceae

Brief Description: Solitary, red-green flowers arising between a pair of leaves; the flower lies on the ground. The plants are hairy. Leaves are heart shaped to round. Plant is 3-7 inches wide at anthesis. Usually found in colonies.

Blooms in April and May.

Geographic Range: From New Brunswick and Quebec to Ontario and Minnesota, south to North Carolina, northern Alabama and northern Louisiana.

Habitat: Rich woods

Garden Use: A nice shade-loving ground filler for gardens emphasizing leaf shapes. Try combining with Bloodroot and Christmas fern.

Historic Uses: Wild Ginger has been used extensively as a healer. It contains antibiotics that are effective against broad-spectrum bacteria and fungi. Rootstocks can be made into a ginger candy.