Wild ginger (Asarum caudatum)

Plant Profile

Wild ginger is an unobtrusive but triply attractive plant. When noticed on a darkened forest floor, it appears as a sprawling collection of leathery, heart-shaped, dark green leaves. A search under the foliage reveals bizarre, brownish maroon flowers, their indented centers surrounded by three triangular-shaped sepals like the twisted ends of a waxed moustache. Deeper probing will uncover sweet smelling stems and roots; these were ground and dried by early settlers and used as a substitute for tropical ginger. A low-growing, spreading, herbaceous perennial. The flowers are unusal in that they have no petals. The brownish purple sepals grow close to ground and serve as ramps for their insect pollinators: ants and beetles. Bloom time: April to July

Culture

Makes a good ground cover for naturalizing shady places. Prefers deep to high filtered shade but will take part sun in coastal areas. Likes some moisture.

California Native Plant Society - North Coast Chapter
P.O. Box 1067 Arcata, CA 95518-1067
Last updated February 4, 1997