General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Partial or Dappled Shade
Partial Shade to Full Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Plant Height: 4 to 6 inches (10-15cm)
Leaves: Unusual foliage color
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Flower Color: Purple
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Spring
Underground structures: Rhizome
Uses: Groundcover
Will Naturalize
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Tolerates dry shade
Propagation: Seeds: Self fertile
Other info: Readily self-seeds
Propagation: Other methods: Division
Pollinators: Self
Flies
Awards and Recognitions: RHS AGM

Image
Common names
  • European Wild Ginger
  • Asarabacca
  • Wild Ginger
  • Hazelwort
  • Spikenard

Photo Gallery
Location: z5 MA, my garden
Date: 2010-07-09
Location: my garden, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2006-05-09
Location: Millinocket, Maine
Date: 2022-06-17
European ginger nestled around August Moon Hosta and flanked by Y
Location: Northwest N.J.
Date: 2011-10-08
Location: Hosta kitchen garden - morning sun only
Date: 2013-0511
Location: NYBG 
Date: June 14 22
Location: Riverview, Robson, B.C. 
Date: 2009-05-10
 5:50 pm. On the left: the fuzzy, larger Canadian Ginger. On the
Location: Riverview, Robson, B.C. 
Date: 2007-05-25
 6:39 pm. A lovely colony of shiny leaves - a great ground cover.
Location: In my garden in Kalama, Wa.
Date: 2007-04-27
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Farmer Johns Greenhouse, Farmington Hills, MI
Date: 2010-05-17
Location: Farmer Johns Greenhouse, Farmington Hills, MI
Date: 2010-05-17
Location: Farmer Johns Greenhouse, Farmington Hills, MI
Date: 2010-05-17
Location: Farmer Johns Greenhouse, Farmington Hills, MI
Date: 2010-05-17
Location: z6a MA, My Garden
Date: 2012-04-06
Fresh new Spring foliage
Location: z6a MA, My Garden
Date: 2012-04-06
Location: z6a MA, My Garden
Date: 2012-04-06
Location: Hosta kitchen garden - morning sun only
Date: 2010-04-01
Location: Orem, Utah
Date: 2012-03-31
At Cooks Nursery

Photo Courtesy of Secret Garden Growers.
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: My garden in N E Pa. 
Date: 2015-04-15
Foliage emerging with flowers tucked inside of leaf as they open.
Location: My garden in N E Pa. 
Date: 2015-04-15
This plant is tagged in:
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Comments:
  • Posted by eclayne (Pioneer Valley south, MA, USA - Zone 6a) on Aug 2, 2012 9:52 AM concerning plant:
    What a great plant. Beautiful glossy green leaves, dense clumping habit, out competes weeds and self seeds readily but right next to the parent. I divided the two clumps in my photo in spring 2011, by summer 2012 I have 9 clumps that size. 9!! In full or partial shade. I don't fertilize or water them and they do great.
  • Posted by TheMainer (Maine - Zone 4b) on Nov 26, 2022 5:46 AM concerning plant:
    It has certain microbial properties. This area has a puddle of water from melting snow in early spring for a week or so, and it doesn't seem to mind it at all. It is evergreen in my 4B garden.
  • Posted by sallyg (central Maryland - Zone 7b) on May 9, 2020 11:44 AM concerning plant:
    Compared to species canadense, this one is obviously more glossy, darker, and a tighter clump in growth.
Plant Events from our members
treehugger On March 28, 2016 Bloomed
Flowers open before new foliage emerges.
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