Saturday, June 30, 2012

American Ginger


Our crop of American Ginger (Asarum canadense) has escaped under the fence to the neighbors yard! This charming native American woodland ground cover has gone seeking just a wee bit more sun. It grows happily in semi shade but not in dense shade. The interesting flowers are small and brownish and grow near the base of the plant in early spring. The roots of this plant have a gingery flavor and can be used for seasoning of a wild foods meal. The leaves have a slightly spicy scent but aren't used for food. 

3 comments:

Marilyn Miller said...

How fascinating! I love seeing the flowers hidden under the leaves. The leaf shape reminds me of violets.

La Tea Dah said...

I love this sweet little plant with its heart shaped leaves. It grows in shady places in our cabin woods. I always appreciate it.

Angela McRae said...

How interesting! The leaves look just like those on the little wild violets in my yard.