Asarum canadense

Ginger - Canadian

The soft green leaves of Canadian Ginger appear in pairs in spring and are followed closely by weird, hairy, burgundy brown 3-lobed flowers which attracts pollinators such as crawling flies and beetles with its fragrance. It requires high organic matter soil that maintains constant moisture until the plant is established. Asarum canadense spreads rapidly in forest understory sites. Ants carry seeds back to their nests dispersing and creating new plants. They are the larval host for the pipeline swallowtail. Asarum canadense is a great native groundcover that does well in deep shade and is perfect for a woodland garden or to help with erosion control.