Native Perennial
Light: Part Shade, Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Moist, rich soils. pH of 6 to 7 is best.
Size Notes: Up to about 8 inches tall
Leaf: Medium green
Bloom Color: Red, Green, Purple, Brown
Bloom Time: Apr, May, June
Fruit: Brown
Deer Resistant
Good Ground Cover
Attracts: Butterflies
Pollinator Benefit: Larval host for Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly
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Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) - This low, colony-forming perennial grows only 4-8 in. high. Each plant bears a pair of large, velvety, heart-shaped leaves. Growing at ground level in the crotch between 2 leafstalks is a single darkish red-brown to green-brown flower. The solitary flower is at ground level, hidden below the leaves.
The fleshy rootstock can create a crowded network on the woodland floor, resulting in a dense ground cover of Wild ginger. The root has a strong ginger flavor and, when cooked with sugar, can be used as a substitute for ginger.