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I grow three kinds of wild ginger. These low plants work well
as groundcovers in slightly different situations. Wild ginger spreads by
underground rhizomes. The European species Asarum europeum (top, right) has smaller, glossier leaves than the Canadian A. canadensis
(middle, right.) It also grows much lower to the ground. My plants are only
about 2"-3" tall. As a result, the flowers, which are borne at the base
of the stems and lay on the ground, are not very prominent. But it's worth
pushing the foliage aside to see them. Asarum flowers are like a
three-sided cup with a pointed tendril coming from each side. Canadian
wild ginger has larger, more prominent flowers. It's also a larger plant.
Mine grow about 8" to 10" tall. For use as groundcovers, each needs to
be situated with plants that they will not overwhelm or be overwhelmed
by. I would recommend growing the Canadian species on a bank or the top
of a wall near eye level where the flowers can be appreciated in early
spring. A. arifolium (bottom, right) was a new addition to the garden
last spring so I can't really comment on it other than the fact that I
like the different leaf shape and the mottling. Last summer I added
A. shuttleworthii in my garden. It may be near the edge of its
hardiness range here, but the pictures I've seen of it made it look very
tempting. It looks to me a lot like A. europeum, but with more silvery paterns on the leaves. Unfortunately, it fell as a casualty of my vacation and poor watering
instructions for the houseboy. I may try it again in the future if I find it in a nursery.
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