Scientific Name:
Asarum canadense
Pronunciation:
ah-SAR-um kan-ah-DEN-see
Common Name:
Canadian wild ginger
Family Name:
Aristolochiaceae
Plant Type:
Herbaceous perennial
Key ID Features:
Leaves arising from ginger-scented shallow rhizomes, shiny, kidney-shaped, most blades 3-10cm long x 5-15cm wide, petioles to 15-30cm long; flowers bell-like with three flared petal-like sepal lobes 3-8cm long, tan-purplish.
Habit:
Spreading
Form:
Creeping / Mat-like
Texture:
Coarse
Mature Height:
0.2 - 0.4m
Mature Spread:
0.3 - 0.6m
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Origin:
Canada - eastern, U.S. - northeast
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 3: (-40 to -34 °C)
Exposure:
Part sun/part shade, Filtered shade, Deep shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Acidic, Humus rich, Well-drained
Landscape Uses:
Ground cover, Native planting, Perennial border, Woodland margin
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Basal
Texture/Venation:
Succulent
Surfaces:
Lustrous, Pubescent
Shapes:
Orbicular, Ovate
Apices:
Obtuse, Rounded
Bases:
Cordate
Margins:
Entire
Inflorescence Type:
Flowers solitary
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
0
Ovary Position:
Inferior
Colour (petals):
Not showy, Purple, Dark-red, Brown
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
Apr, May
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Jun, Jul
Bark or Stem Colour:
n/a
Organ Modifications:
Rhizomes, (Rhizomes edible)
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
(Deer resistant, Drought tolerant)
Course(s):
- not used (on campus)
Location(s):
- (BCE) Boulevard (Circular) Eastend
- (ONE) Overpass North side East
- (TFL) Turf Field Lab
- (WLG) WoodLand Garden