Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)
[ah-SAR-um kan-ah-DEN-see]

Deciduous Perennial Spreading in the Aristolochiaceae Family
 
 
Available May 7
Size Notes Price Availability
32 Flat Field $94.24
Available May 14
Size Notes Price Availability
32 Flat Field $94.24
 
Discover wild ginger, a versatile perennial that blankets the shade with its lush, heart-shaped leaves and delightful ginger aroma. With its unique, hidden bell-shaped flowers and persistent charm, it is perfect for naturalizing shady gardens.

Asarum canadense, commonly known as wild ginger, is a versatile, low-growing perennial native to the deciduous forests of eastern North America. This shade-loving groundcover forms a dense carpet of large, heart-shaped leaves that emerge in early spring, providing an attractive, textural foliage display throughout the growing season. The leaves, which are a rich, glossy green, release a distinct ginger-like aroma when crushed, earning the plant its common name. In early to mid spring, just before the foliage fully unfurls, Asarum canadense produces unique, inconspicuous flowers that sit close to the ground, hidden beneath the leaves. These unusual, bell-shaped blooms range in color from reddish-brown to deep purple, adding subtle visual interest to the plant's groundcover-forming habit. Adaptable to a variety of soil types, from sandy to clay, wild ginger thrives in the dappled shade of woodland environments and is an excellent choice for naturalized garden settings, shady borders, and erosion-prone slopes. 

Pros

Host plant for pipevine swallowtail butterfly.

Root has a ginger-like scent.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 6 - 12 inches tall. 12 - 18 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Full Shade - Partial Sun
Moisture Tolerance - Wet
Zones 4a - 6b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Attracts Beneficial Insects, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Wildlife, Colorful Foliage, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Edging, Filler, For a Shady Spot, Fragrant, Full Shade, Good for Beginners, Good for Borders, Good for Mass Planting, Good for Rock Garden, Groundcover, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Illinois Native, Low Maintenance, Most Popular, Native to North America, Naturalizing, Non-Allergenic, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Shade Tolerant, Tender Perennial, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Loamy Soil, Tolerant of Poor Soil, Tolerant of Sandy Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Wet, Wet Site Tolerant, Woodland Garden
Bloom Period April to June
Flower Color Purplish Brown
Foliage Color
 

Most Popular Plants
 

More Info from Experts

Photos of This with...

Whitespire Gray Birch, Cushion Spurge, Lenten Rose, Primo Black Pearl Coral Bells, Plantain Lily,
 
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/03 - 09/20
2024 : 05/01 - 09/21
2023 : 04/13 - 09/30

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Limited Availability

We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!


Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


Estimated Recipe Cost

The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!