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A LITTLE MORE LIFE

Wild ginger

Asarum canadense

Broad native leaves protect woodland soil, while its hidden flowers are pollinated by flies and beetles.

Heart-shaped leaves & reddish flowers at ground level.
Kathy Sill · CC BY 4.0

MAKE IT FEEL AT HOME

A spot to thrive.

Spreads slowly into a carpet in rich soil. This is not culinary ginger.

Sunlight
Shade
Soil moisture
Average moisture / Moist to wet
Mature size
6–12 in tall · spreading
Season of interest
Spring
Hardiness
USDA zones 4–6
Garden role
A leafy groundcover
FormCathy Dewitt · CC BY 4.0

ONE GOOD SWAP

Instead of english ivy.

Hedera helix

Try wild ginger for a leafy groundcover.

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NATIVE TO YOUR PLACE

Find it in your state guide.

Reviewed native coverage. Choose your state to see more alternatives.

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Dig a little deeper.

Plant profile & growing information Find a native nursery
Photo credits & licenses

Wild ginger: Kathy Sill · CC BY 4.0
English ivy: Cathy Dewitt · CC BY 4.0

Resized, converted to WebP, and cropped in the layout. Each photo retains its listed license. All photo credits