Asarum canadense – Canada Wild Ginger

An excellent member of the shade garden and also a native plant, Asarum canadense is most often used as groundcover, or in a naturalized landscape setting. It also makes a good edging plant. Transplants spaced one foot apart will form a solid cover in two to three years. Wild Ginger keeps its foliage throughout the season, making it a good choice to plant with spring ephemerals that go dormant after they bloom. As a woodland native this deer resistant plant enjoys shade and tolerates a variety of soil types. An attractive dark red flower, usually hidden from view by the foliage, blooms in early spring.

It also grows well and combines with a host of other native plants, such as Maidenhair Fern, Lady Fern, Ostrich Fern,Jacob’s Ladder, Wild Blue Phlox, and Goldenrod – to name a few.

Although not related to culinary ginger (Zingiber officinale), the roots of Wild Ginger produce a scent that is similar to ginger (or, some say cardamom). Fresh or dried roots were used by early Americans as a ginger substitute, but the plant is not normally used today for culinary purposes.

Deer and other mammals leave it alone. It is an alternative food source for the Pipevine swallowtail Butterfly caterpillar (Battus philenor) as well as serving as the host plant for the larval. Other insects are attracted to Wild Ginger, including ants which are believed to pollinate the plant.

It’s fresh green foliage starts to grow in early spring. It covers the ground with a living mulch probably just about the same time you are getting out into the garden more.

At Lincoln Landscaping cultivating the environment is our life and livelihood. It is our number one goal to help our clients create and maintain beautiful landscapes while reducing the impact on the environment. Whether you are interested in a pollinator landscape garden design and build or other landscaping or property management project; we can create for you an environmentally friendly, organic and beautiful property.

Lincoln Landscaping of Franklin Lakes offers complete
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