This native groundcover slowly forms a green carpet in shady or wooded areas.
Wild ginger(Asarumspp.)
is a low-growing native plant that thrives in moist, shady places.
Credit: Justin Hancock
It is not a relative of culinary ginger; grow it for ornamental use only.
Wild ginger spreads slowly by rhizomes and creates a lush groundcover in shady areas.
It’s also deer resistant.
Credit: Justin Hancock
Although wild ginger is grown more for its foliage than its floral display, its small blossoms are intriguing.
The flowers develop at ground level, so they are often hidden from view.
This coloringhelps attract their pollinators.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Some species have larger flowers than others.
Where to Plant Wild Ginger
Plant wild ginger in a wet, shady area.
Wild ginger makes a good groundcover for woodland gardens and shady wildlife gardens.
Credit: Jeff McNamara
It can also be planted in containers, which allows its low-growing flowers to be admired more easily.
Backfill the hole and water thoroughly.
Space the plants 12-24 inches apart.
Credit: Karlis Grants
During the spring, add an additional layer of compost to provide extra nutrients.
Wild ginger prefers acidic soil but can tolerate neutral soil.
Sow them in small pots or seed flats and put them in a warm area until they germinate.
Credit: Julie Maris Semarco
Move them to larger pots in a warm area to continue growing.
When the outdoor weather warms, transplant them to their permanent location.
Wild Ginger Care Tips
Light
Wild ginger prefers to grow inpart shade to full shade.
Credit: Lynn Karlin
Soil and Water
Wild ginger grows well inmedium to wet, well-drained soil.
Due to its slow-growing nature, it may take several years to establish and make a substantial clump.
Wild ginger tolerates both average and high humidity.
Fertilizer
The only fertilizer wild ginger needs is an annual top dressing of compost each spring.
Choose a container with drain holes and fill it withorganic potting soil.
Add the plant and water thoroughly.
If the problem is extensive, remove any mulch and spread diatomaceous earth on the soil around the plants.
How to Propagate Wild Ginger
Divisions are the easiest way to propagate wild ginger.
Propagation with seed works but requires patience.
Division:The rhizomes of wild ginger grow close to the surface, making it easy todivide the plant.
Early spring is the best time to divide wild ginger, just as new growth appears.
Remove some of the soil around the plant to reveal the rhizomes.
Plant it so the soil line on the new growth is the same as before the division.
Seed:Wild ginger is difficult to propagate from seed, but it can be done.
Locate the seed pods; they are hidden by the foliage and close to the ground.
As they mature, the pods disintegrate to release the seed, which is then disbursed by ants.
Monitor the pods for the first sign of disintegration and harvest the pods before the seeds are scattered.
Place them in a plastic bag until they turn mushy.
Add them in a jar of water and shake it to separate the seed from the pulp.
The viable seeds sink to the bottom.
Harvest those seeds and don’t let them dry out.
When planting, press the seeds 1/2 inch deep in prepared garden soil and barely cover them.
The plants will be small in the first year as they develop their rhizomes.
It requires regular moisture to look its best.
It has better heat tolerance than European wild ginger.
It has arrowhead-shaped leaves with silver mottling and dark purple flowers in spring.
Zones 5-9
European Wild Ginger
Asarum europaeumbears striking evergreen leaves that have a glossy sheen.
In drier sites, however, the leaves will scorch in full sun.
It will spread slowly over time where well situated.
Most commercially available types are complex hybrids.
Hostas in new sizes and touting new foliage features seem to appear each year.
Some are intensely fragrant.
Hostas are a favorite of slugs and deer.
Lady fern is equally elegant, though not quite as showy.
Either will add interest and texture to your shady spots.
Early flowers are pollinated by flies and beetles.
However, wild ginger is self-fertile and can produce seeds with or without outside pollinators.
It also reproduces via its rhizomes.
Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense L.).
