Wild ginger (North American)

Asarum canadense

Heart-leaved woodland ground cover with hidden purple-brown flowers at ground level. Aromatic rhizome smells like ginger but is botanically unrelated.

Hardiness ratings

Wild ginger (North American) hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 3–8 −40 °C to −6.7 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
RHS hardiness rating H7 down to −20 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 3–8 −34 °C to −1 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 1–4 −15 °C to 5 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone

Growing notes

  • Contains aristolochic acid — known nephrotoxic and carcinogenic. Not for internal use despite traditional precedents.
  • Useful as ornamental ground cover in deep shade
  • Always consult a qualified medical or herbal practitioner before using any plant medicinally

Pet caution: Wild ginger (North American) is listed as potentially harmful to cats and/or dogs. Keep pets from grazing on it, and contact a vet if you suspect your animal has eaten some.

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Wild ginger (North American) against your zones

Reference

Wild ginger (North American) on Wikipedia