SafePlants

Asarum canadense: Canada Wild Ginger

Asarum canadense, commonly known as Canada wild ginger, Canadian snakeroot, or broad-leaved asarabacca, is a fascinating herbaceous perennial appreciated for its ground cover qualities and unique characteristics.

Considerations for Pets

• The text mentions that Asarum canadense contains Aristolochic Acid, a naturally occurring toxin.
• One of the common names is Snakeroot.

Considerations for Children

• The text mentions that Asarum canadense contains Aristolochic Acid, a naturally occurring toxin.

Nomenclature and Taxonomy

• Scientific Name: Asarum canadense L.
• Common Names: Canada wild ginger, Canadian snakeroot, Wild ginger, European wild ginger, Woodland Ginger, Canada Ginger, Asarabacca, Cat's Foot, Indian Ginger, Ginger Root, False Coltsfoot, Heartleaf, Indian ginger, Colicroot, Heart snakeroot, Vermont snakeroot, False coltsfoot, Little Heartleaf.
• Family: Aristolochiaceae (Birthwort Family)
• Synonyms: Asarum acuminatum, Asarum canadense var. acuminatum

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to the woodlands of Eastern North America.
• Found in rich, moist forests in much of New England.
• Grows in the shade or partial shade in rich sugar maple stands, including sugar maple-hickory and Laurentian sugar maple stands.
• Found in moist, shady forests from southeastern Canada into the mountain regions of Georgia, along the east coast of the United States.
• Occurs in rich woods and wooded slopes throughout the state of Mississippi.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Herbaceous perennial plant.
• Deciduous species.
• Erect perennial low growing forb, up to 8 inches high, usually appearing in clumps.
• No aerial stems.
• Forms a solid patch of downy green kidney-shaped leaves.
• Rounded, lustrous leaves.
• Heart-shaped leaves up to 7 inches wide, slightly fuzzy.
• Spreads slowly via underground rhizomes.
• Tubular reddish-brown flower to 2 inches across with 3 triangular petal-like sepals.

Ecological Role

• Deer-resistant.
• Aromatic, vigorously growing, ground-spreader.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Pollinated by insects.
• Cantharophilic, sometimes myophilic or sapromyophilic (attracts beetles, flies, or those that feed on decaying matter).
• Larval host for the Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly.

Quirky Facts

• The rhizomes can grow on top of the ground or just below the surface.
• Early settlers ate Canadian Wild Ginger.
• The root has a scent.
• The root of this species has a pleasant gingery taste.

Additional Information

• Research project on Canadian wild ginger by Maggie May at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse.