Canadian wild ginger is an herbaceous perennial wildflower in the pipevine family (Aristolochiaceae). It is native to a vast area of eastern North America. The species epithet is Latin for “of Canada.” Canadian wild ginger has poor drought tolerance and performs best in high organic matter soil that maintains constant moisture. This plant prefers light to deep shade, and it is often found on rocky, acidic soils. It spreads slowly and can be propagated through its underground rhizomes or through seeds. The tiny brown-purple flowers are hidden under the leaves and are more interesting than beautiful, but they do attract pollinators with their sweet fragrance. They are also capable of self-pollinating. The handsome foliage and high shade tolerance make it a great choice for a woodland, shade or rain garden. Plant it as an edging or border plant, and it will easily naturalize as a deciduous groundcover in your garden. This plant tolerates deer browsing, wet soils, heavy shade and erosion. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Slugs and snails can be occasional pests. More information on Asarum .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
Less than 12 inches; 12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Horizontal; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Blue; Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Rosulate
Leaf shape
Cordate
Leaf feel
Leathery; Velvety
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Pair of heart-shaped, basal leathery, dull gray-green, very veined leaves; 3- to 6-in. long; covered with fine hairs
Flower color
Brown/Copper; Purple/Lavender
Flower form
Insignificant; Solitary
Flower shape
Bell; Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Solitary, bell-shaped flower, often hidden among the fallen leaves; three spreading or recurved, pointed, brownish-purple lobes, flowers in mid-spring April-May.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Displays from May to June.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
North America
Distribution
Manitoba Canada to North Carolina
Wildlife value
Larval host plant for pipevine swallowtail butterfly (Battus philenor). Flies and beetles are pollinators.
Attracts
Butterflies; Pollinators; Songbirds
Host plant for
pipevine swallowtail butterfly (Battus philenor)
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Uses (ethnobotany)
Root has a ginger-like scent, and early Americans used it as a ginger substitute but it is not widely used today.