This evergreen herbaceous perennial, also known as arrow-leaf wild ginger, is native to dry to mesic woodlands and forests of southeastern US and is a member of the pipevine family, Aristolochiaceae. It is not a true ginger but gets its common name from the fact that its rhizomes taste and smell like ginger root when crushed or bruised. Plants grow 6-8″ tall and have glossy blue-green, heart-shaped leaves that are up to 5″ long, scented, and patterned with silver or gray markings. In spring purple to brown, urn-shaped flowers appear under the leaves on the ends of rhizomes. Plants are slow growing but eventually cover a large area and are an excellent choice as a ground cover. The genus name, Asarum, is the Latin and Greek name for one of the species. The specific epithet, arifolium, comes from the genus name for lords and ladies, and the Latin word folia meaning leaf, and refers to the resemblance of this plant’s leaf to that of Arums.
Type: Evergreen herbaceous perennial
Size: 6-8″ H x 8-15″ W
Light: Partial to deep shade
Soil: Average, medium moist to dry, well-drained
Hardiness: Zones 5-9
Care: Low maintenance
Pests and Diseases: Slugs, snails
Propagation: Division in early spring, seed
Companion Plants: Hostas, ferns, bishop’s hat
Outstanding Selections:
‘Quicksilver’
Silver Spreader’
Photo Credit: David J Stang Wikipedia Commons; Halpaugh Wikipedia Commons
Karen Meyers