Asarum caudatum

Common Names

Wild Ginger, British Columbia Wild Ginger, Western Wild Ginger, Long-Tailed Wild Ginger

Summary

Asarum caudatum is a rhizomatous evergreen perennial native to moist, shady forests of western North America, from British Columbia to California and east to western Montana, where it forms a dense ground-cover mat in the understory. It grows about 6–8 inches tall and 12–18 inches wide, with glossy heart-shaped leaves that emit a ginger-like aroma when crushed, and cup-shaped flowers with three long tails that appear beneath the foliage in spring and early summer. It prefers partial to full shade and rich, moist soil with good drainage, and needs regular moisture; as a low-maintenance ground cover, it is deer resistant and suitable for woodland borders, underplanting around shrubs, or container plantings. Propagation is by division in spring or autumn, or by seed (ants disperse the seeds); it is hardy to USDA zones 4–9, tolerates a range of soils, with slug or snail damage possible in damp springs.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

6-8 inches

Spread

6-24 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 7-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial shade to full shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained loam soil with high organic matter and a slightly acidic to neutral pH

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained soil.

Soil pH

Acidic to neutral soils

Bloom Color

Brownish-purple

Bloom Time

Spring to early Summer (April–July)

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

No fall foliage color; evergreen with dark green leaves year-round.

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Slow-growing; spreads by creeping rhizomes to form a carpet within a few years

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

Propagation Methods

Seeds and Cuttings, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts beetles, flies, gnats, and ants