Western wild ginger

Sun

Partial to full shade; protect from hot afternoon sun.

Water

Keep evenly moist but not waterlogged, especially while establishing and during dry summers.

Soil

Humus-rich, well-drained soil, preferably slightly acidic to neutral.

Height

0.25-0.5 ft (0.08-0.15 m)

Spread

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m), eventually wider through creeping rhizomes

Flowers

Spring to early summer; small brownish-purple flowers with three long, tapering tips, usually hidden beneath the leaves.

Foliage

Glossy green, heart-shaped leaves with a ginger-like scent when crushed; usually evergreen in mild climates but may lose leaves in cold winters.

Growth

Slow to moderate; spreads more readily in cool, moist soil.

Care needed

Low

• Deer resistant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.1 ft (0.03 m)

2. After 1 year

   0.2 ft (0.06 m)

3. After 2 years

   0.3 ft (0.08 m)

4. After 3 years

   0.4 ft (0.11 m)

5. After 5 years

   0.4 ft (0.12 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Native to

the US and Canada

In the garden

Spreads vigorously: plan to contain it.

Growth rate

Slow

• Water during dry spells before the shallow root zone dries out completely.
• Apply a thin layer of leaf mould or compost in spring; routine fertiliser is usually unnecessary.
• Mulch lightly with shredded leaves, keeping thick piles away from the crowns.
• Check young plants for slugs and snails during damp weather.
• Divide established patches in spring if you want more plants or need to limit their spread.

Pruning. Remove winter-damaged or ragged leaves in late winter or early spring without cutting emerging growth. Trim back spreading rhizomes at the edge of a patch when needed.

Late winter

Remove damaged leaves and check that winter rain is draining freely.

Spring

Plant or divide clumps, water them in well, and top-dress with leaf mould.

Late spring

Check beneath the foliage for flowers and inspect young leaves for slug damage.

Summer

Water during dry spells and watch for leaf scorch where sunlight reaches the planting.

Autumn

Renew a light leaf mulch and remove seedlings or rhizomes growing beyond the intended area.

• Carpet the ground beneath deciduous trees where soil stays moist.
• Edge shaded paths so the heart-shaped leaves can be seen at close range.
• Plant among ferns and woodland perennials for a low, continuous green layer.
• Use in sheltered courtyard shade as an alternative to lawn where foot traffic is absent.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Pacific Northwest woodland, Moss and fern garden, Japanese, Green on green and Secret garden.

Plant it with: Western sword fern, Western maidenhair fern, Pacific trillium, Redwood sorrel, Foamflower and Hostas.

Wildlife: The sheltered flowers attract small ground-level insects, including flies. Ants can disperse the seeds, and the foliage provides cover for small woodland invertebrates.

• Slugs and snails chew leaves: hand-pick after dark, reduce nearby hiding places, or use an iron-phosphate bait according to its label.
• Dry soil causes wilting and browning: water deeply enough to moisten the root zone and add a light organic mulch.
• Hot sun scorches foliage: move exposed plants into afternoon shade.
• Waterlogged soil can cause rhizome rot: improve drainage or replant in a better-drained position rather than watering on a fixed schedule.

Treat all parts as potentially toxic to people, cats, dogs and horses. Wild gingers can contain aristolochic acids, associated with serious kidney damage and cancer; do not use the leaves or rhizomes as food, tea or medicine. Species-specific poisoning information for domestic animals is limited, so prevent grazing or chewing.

• Canadian wild ginger (Asarum canadense)

  Usually has softly hairy, deciduous leaves and flowers without the conspicuously long, slender tips of western wild ginger.

• European wild ginger (Asarum europaeum)

  Has more rounded, kidney-shaped, leathery leaves and flowers with short lobes rather than long tails.

The epithet caudatum means 'tailed', referring to the flower's long tips, while wild ginger refers to the ginger-like scent of the plant.

Propagation. Divide rooted sections of rhizome in spring and replant promptly at their original depth. Fresh seed can also be sown, but germination may be slow and irregular; do not let the seed dry out.

Accepted botanical name

Asarum caudatum

In the US and Canada

Native in Canada and the lower 48 states.

Native range

British Columbia, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.