Low-maintenance and also low to the ground, Asarum is made for the shade. Any place protected from sun will suit this cold-tolerant perennial, which is often called wild ginger. When crushed, the leaves will release the scent of ginger, although they are not considered edible. The plant is so named because its root was once used as a substitute for that exotic spice.
If you need a groundcover plant that’s always trim, tidy and impeccably well-groomed, look no further than Asarum canadense, a native of the North American woodlands. Grown for its 5 inch (12.7 cm) tall, downy green, heart-shaped leaves, this species forms a carpet that bears up well when summer weather becomes torridly hot. Its European counterpart, A. europaeum, is similar in shape and size, but its leaves are brighter green with a glossy, waxy shine and subtle veining. It is somewhat less tolerant of heat and drought than its native cousin, but remains reliably evergreen through cold winters.
Both wild gingers bloom in early spring as the leaves unfold, but the flowers are easy to miss. Appearing close to the ground, the small, brownish purple, urn-shaped flowers are inconspicuous except for their gently refreshing scent. You’ll have to lift the leaves to see and smell them.
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Wild ginger (Asarum) is an ideal groundcover choice, always staying trim and tidy.
