Asarum shuttleworthii
An evergreen, herbaceous plant native to the southeastern United States, with variegated heart-shaped leaves and large urn-shaped flowers that emerge from rhizomes beneath the forest floor in early spring.
Common Names
Wild Ginger, Mottled Wild Ginger, Evergreen Wild Ginger, Shuttleworth's Ginger, Shuttleworth's Wild Ginger
Summary
An evergreen wild ginger native to the southeastern United States forms a low, spreading ground cover with rhizomatous roots, reaching about 6–12 inches in height and 12–18 inches in width, with heart-shaped, glossy leaves often marbled and with brown-purple, urn-shaped flowers that emerge near the foliage in spring.
In cultivation, it prefers partial to full shade and constantly moist, well-drained, acidic soils; it is hardy in USDA zones 5–9, spreads slowly by rhizomes, and is best divided in early spring to maintain vigor, with potential to self-sow in suitable positions, making it well suited for woodland gardens, borders, and shade-ground cover.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
6-12 inches
Spread
6-12 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 5-9
Sunlight Requirements
Partial Shade to Full Shade
Soil Type
Rich, well-drained soil high in organic matter; pH 5.5–7.0.
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil that is consistently moist, not waterlogged.
Soil pH
6.0-6.5
Bloom Color
Insignificant
Bloom Time
Spring to Summer
Foliage Color
Green with silvery mottling
Fall Foliage Color
No fall color
Leaf Lifecycle
Evergreen broadleaf
Growth Rate
Very slow
Seasons of Interest
Spring
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Division, Cuttings
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts flies
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Britten & Baker f.
- Publication
- J. Bot. 36: 98 (1898)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Piperales
- Family
- Aristolochiaceae
- Genus
- Asarum
Synonyms
Asarum virginicum var. grandiflorum Asarum shuttleworthii var. shuttleworthii Asarum macranthum Asarum grandiflorum Hexastylis shuttleworthii