Native to the northern and eastern United States, and southern Canada.
Contains aristolochic acid, a carinogen which the FDA warns will cause permanent kidney damage if consumed.
Rhizomatous tuber growing 6" to 1' tall in a dense clump.
Leaves are kidney-shaped and persistent, growing in pairs. They are leathery in textue and have dense, fine hairs.
Hosts the Battus philenor (pipevine butterfly), and attracts flies and beetles to pollinate.
Small, fragrant flowers grow on the undersides of leaves and bloom in late spring.
Requires deep shade and well-drained, rich soil.
Hardiness zones 4-6
Sentimental and Symbolic Value
Native Americans within its native range were known to have used as a folk medicine for physical and psychological ailments, a stimulant, and a charm or talisman worn to protect against illness. Despite its toxic nature, it is still used as a natural weight-loss supplement today in alternative medicine circles.
It is used as a local altenative to Zingiber officinale (common cullinary ginger) and Z. zerumbet (Hawaiian ginger or awapuhi). In these contexts, it is considered a symbol of love, passion and peace. In Hawai'i and elsewhere in Polynseia, ginger-flowers are used to make leis, or ceremonial wreaths worn around the neck.
Specimen photographed at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Plant History and Etymology
Asarum comes from the Latin āsa, meaning altar or sanctuary. The specific epithet canadense refers to Canada. Canadian wild ginger has a long history of medial and cullinary uses, having been used by Native Americans and early European settlers as a spice. The powder was made by drying and grinding the root, but settlers also cooked it and soaked it in sugar water to create a sweet candied root. It was variously used as a contraceptive, a gastrointestinal remedy and a treatment for open wounds by native Americans. It continued to be used for these and other uses including treating heart palpitations, fevers, tumors and weight loss for generations until it was declared by the FDA to be a carcinogen and a nephrotoxic in 2011.
Design Considerations
The plant's unique leaves and fragrance make it a common ornamental in shady envionments such as planted woodlands and rain gardens. It can be a great groundcover due to its thick but slow growth pattern and requirement for shade, being able to thrive very low to the ground beneath other plants. It is also tolerant of deer, satured soils, and erosion.
Sources
Moerman, Daniel E. 1991. “The Medicinal Flora of Native North America: An Analysis.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 31 (1): 1–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(91)90141-y.
“Wild Ginger.” 2021. Fs.fed.us. 2021. https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/asarum_canadense.shtml.
“Asarum Canadense (Canadian Wild Ginger, Common Wild Ginger, Wild Ginger) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.” 2021. Ncsu.edu. 2021. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/asarum-canadense/.
Natural Lands. 2017. “Wild Ginger – Natural Lands.” Stolaf.edu. Natural Lands. 2017. https://wp.stolaf.edu/naturallands/forest/ephemerals/wildginger/.
“Asarum Canadense - Plant Finder.” 2021. Missouribotanicalgarden.org. 2021. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b460.
“Aristolochic Acid: FDA Warns Consumers to Discontinue Use of Botanical Products That Contain Aristolochic Acid.” 2016. Archive.org. 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20171115154508/https://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/SafetyAlertsAdvisories/ucm096388.htm.
“Ginger Leis - Hawaiian Flower Leis.” 2021. Aloha Island Lei. 2021. https://alohaislandlei.com/flower/ginger/#:~:text=The%20ginger%20flowers%20of%20Micronesia,scientific%20name%20is%20Zingiber%20officinale.&text=A%20red%20ginger%20flower%20lei%20symbolizes%20tolerance%2C%20passion%20and%20wealth..