Canadian Wild Ginger- Asarum Canadense

This lush ground cover grows 4-6" tall in shaded areas. It provides a clean and attractive look with easy maintanence. Slow to moderate growth rate. Unless there are very harsh winters, this is an evergreen. Small purple-brown flowers develop under the foliage in spring.

The plant gets it's name because when crushed it smells similar to culinary ginger. Culinary ginger,however, is in the Zingiberaceae or true ginger family while wild gingers are members of the Aristolochiaceae or pipe vine family. Various species of Asarum are used medicinally.