Hansen's Northwest Native Plant Database

Kingdom Plantae – Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons

Subclass Magnoliidae

Order Aristolochiales

Family Aristolochiaceae – Birthwort family

Genus Asarum L. – wildginger

Species Asarum caudatum Lindl. – British Columbia wildginger

Wild Ginger is one of the finest native ground covers.

Tucked among the beautiful heart-shaped, fragrant, evergreen leaves are small, brownish purple flowers like tiny bells.

Wild Ginger develops colonies by spreading rhizomes. The hairy stems will also root readily if they stay in contact with the moist ground.

Although not a close relative of the tropical ginger plant, the roots and rubbed foliage of Wild Ginger have a similar fragrance.

Found along the Pacific coast, east into Montana (USDA 8-10), Wild Ginger needs shade and moisture.

The FDA website declared this plant unsafe for internal use. Enjoy the fragrance but we do not recommend using this plant for internal consumption in any way. See http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cms_ia/importalert_141.html

Wild Ginger with Fringecup (Tellima grandiflora). The serrated Fringecup leaves have a rougher texture and are lovely with the  heartshaped ginger leaves