Plants in the genus asarum (sometimes mistakenly called hexastylis) are small but exquisite, deer-resistant woodland perennials that thrive in moist but well-drained conditions with light shade. Most asarum species are evergreen although some, such as Asarum canadense, lose their foliage in the winter. We have estimated the hardiness of our asarum offerings based on past performance, although gardeners in areas with consistent winter snow cover have been known to eke out a few extra hardiness zones. Asarum plants are prized for their spectacular cyclamen-like foliage, unusual flowers, and in some species, a wonderful fragrance (when crushed). Because of their rarity and slow growth rate, expect 2-3 years for the wild ginger plant to establish and form a spectacular clump.
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While asarum plants are usually grown for their heart-shaped foliage, they also offer a delightful treat to those gardeners who are willing to get down on their hands and knees and poke around under the leaves...flowers! Asarum produce fascinating, 3-lobed, flowers in shades of brown, purple, black, yellow and white. In a few species (Asarum asaroides, Asarum maximum, Asarum splendens) the flowers are fairly large relative to the plant and are a real treat to see. When you are ready to buy wild ginger plants for your garden, check out our list of asarum for sale below.
Since 1988, Plant Delights Nursery has been the choice of serious gardeners and plant collectors looking for the best and rarest perennial plants. We are pleased to have received the Perennial Plant Association Retail Award in 2011, the American Horticulture Society Commercial Award in 2002, and to have been selected as one of the Best Mail Order Plant Sources - Garden Design Magazine 2010. Welcome to our family of plant lovers!
The name is a bit bizarre, since the specific epithet "asaroides" means asarum-like...well, duh! And who says mothball-sniffing herbarium taxonomists don't have a sense of humor. Asarum asaroides is a vigorous, evergreen clump-former with long heart-shaped leaves to 6" with cloudy, silvery-white markings...different on each clone because of the wide species variability. The 15" wide clumps are adorned with 2", rounded, dark purple-brown flowers near the base in spring. This hard-to-find species is one of the easiest to grow in most gardens! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This evergreen clump-forming wild ginger from central Japan has been quite durable in our garden. Each plant will offer different leaf patterns, but the most common is a green leaf with a wide central stripe of silver. The unusual tri-lobed glossy brown flowers occur beneath the leaves in March (NC). We have found this to be a good grower in our trials, forming a 1' wide clump. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This deciduous ginger species, native to most of the eastern US, is covered from early spring until fall with fuzzy, heart-shaped green leaves and spreads by rhizomes. Asarum canadensis makes a superb groundcover mat in a woodland setting, especially in moist and poorly-drained sites. Enjoy a defrocked priest moment, and peek under its clothes in spring to see the spectacular little red flowers with cute tails in early spring...really neat...and legal! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This is our first offering of the Chinese Asarum caudigerum from a Darrell Probst Chinese collection. In the wild, Asarum caudigerum can be found on forested mountain slopes from 1,000-5,000' elevation in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, and Yunnan...as well as adjacent Taiwan and Vietnam. Asarum caudigerum is one of the very hairy species, especially on the stem and leaf undersides. Beneath the evergreen cordate leaves in April and May, you will find the cinnamon-red flowers, each shaped like small thimbles with tiny mustaches...very cute. Our 8-year-old clumps are only 18" wide. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
We are thrilled to offer this selection of the famed Panda Face ginger that was named and introduced by Itsaul Plants of Georgia. Asarum 'Ling Ling' makes a stunning clump of large, glossy, rich-green, heart-shaped foliage highlighted by two silvery-green blotches on either side of the central stripe. In late spring, the 1' wide deer-resistant clumps are adorned by basal clusters of 2" round, velvety black flowers, each highlighted by a wide white band around the center. This easy-to-grow wild ginger is truly a showstopper in the garden or in a container for the sun room. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Asarum megacalyx makes a superb evergreen groundcover patch that reaches 2' wide in 5 years. The glossy dark green foliage of Asarum 'Green Sheen' hides the huge thumb-sized dark purple flowers that appear in late February to early March in NC. When we grew this in deep shade, we only saw a few scattered flowers, but when planted in a site that received a couple of hours of afternoon sun, it produced hundreds of flowers...amazing. This is a form of the northern Honshu, Japan native that we originally received from Eco Gardens. Asarum megacalyx 'Green Sheen' has very dark shiny green leaves, which emerge nicely patterned, but only in spring. Slightly moist, organic soils make the best habitat. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This vigorous selection of the Chinese Asarum pulchellum (from 2200-5500' elevation in Anhui, Guizhou, Hubei, Jiangxi, Sichuan, and NE Yunnan) is dramatically better than any other clone of Asarum pulchellum that we have tried. Our 9-year-old clumps of Asarum 'The Fuzz' are now 4" tall x 3' wide. The extraordinarily hairy (more so than some of the '80s rock bands) green leaves make an elegant evergreen clump, adorned with fleshy-colored flowers that tuck beneath the foliage in late winter. We really like this little-known species. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Splendid indeed! This vigorous and superbly easy-to-grow Chinese ginger makes a great groundcover for the woodland garden. The large, dark green, deer-resistant leaves (evergreen to 10 degrees F) are heavily adorned with silvery mottling throughout. Asarum splendens is a vigorously rhizomatous species. In early spring, you will also love this one for the large 2" flowers of dark purple...one of the finest members of the ginger family. Our original stock came from China, via both Jim Waddick and Barry Yinger. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
We are pleased to offer this vegetatively propagated selection of the durable Asian ginger, Asarum takaoi. Asarum takaoi 'Roundabout' is a slow spreader that forms a 2' wide evergreen patch in 5 years. The medium green, 2" rounded leaves are adorned with small dollops of silver. Each patch is highlighted in late winter with small, three-petaled, flesh-colored flowers that are hidden at the leaf axils. This is truly a superb selection for the woodland garden...both as a specimen and in a mass planting. In 2011, we mistakenly offered this as Asarum takaoi 'Galaxy', which is a more clumping clone. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
.jpg "Epimedium wushanense (Wushan Fairy Wings)")
.jpg "Asarum asaroides (Asarum Leaf Perennial Wild Ginger)")
