Asarum' Canadian Wild Ginger

ℹ The Canadian ginger is a great ground cover plant for gardeners with a shady spot in their garden. They look great with plants like Hosta and ferns, it’s leaf shape is similar to another shade plants. Dark green heart shaped leaves that can grow up to 6 inches in diameter. It is found in moist, rich soils in the eastern forests. It is deciduous so it will die back in the winter, but it’s fresh green foliage brightens up the spring landscape. Canadian ginger is easily grown in average, medium to wet, well-drained soil. Black walnut Tolerant.

The long rhizomes of Canadian Wild Ginger were used by Native Americans as a seasoning. It has similar aromatic properties to true ginger but should not be used as a substitute because it contains an unknown concentration of the carcinogen aristolochic acid and asarone. The distillate from the ground root is known as Canadian snakeroot oil. The odor and flavor are spicy. It has been used in many flavor preparations.